Walsh University earned its first two national championship titles with first place finishes by seniors Marcus Myers and Sarah Berger at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field National Championships in Charlotte, N.C., from May 24-26, 2018.
Marcus Myers became Walsh’s first NCAA National Champion after he won the hammer throw on the opening day of the meet. It is the first national championship for Walsh as a NCAA member and the first since Joe Morgan won the long jump during the 2010 NAIA Indoor Nationals.
"It's a lot of disbelief obviously," said Myers. "But if feels good to walk away my senior year with a championship."
Canton Repository Feature (May 24, 2018): Myers Wins Walsh's First NCAA Championship
Myers is a three-time All-American and won with a throw of 67.05 meters, or 219-11, which came on his fourth attempt. Myers also took seventh place in the discus with a throw of 52.57 meters (172-feet, 5-inches).
On Saturday, Sarah Berger earned her long-awaited National Champion title with a time of 4:22.22 in the 1,500-meter run. After the start, Berger was never lower than second place. By the end of the third lap, she was in first and finished one second better than the competition.
Canton Repository Feature (May 23, 2018): Walsh University Distance Star Sarah Berger Prepares for Big Finish
"It was awesome. I don't really know if it has sunk in yet to be honest," said Berger. "It's been a really long time coming. I'm sad to see it end, but it's the best way it possibly could have ended."
Berger also competed in the 5,000-meter race in the penultimate event of the national championships. Even though she fell as far back as 17th at the start of the race, she was able to improve enough by the end to finish ninth and earn another All-American status.
In addition, sophomore Andra Lehotay also placed sixth to give the Cavaliers three more points to the team total. Berger is now a 10-time All-American. Lehotay is now a five-time All-American.
"It was a pretty stellar weekend for us," said Head Coach Rob Mizicko. "I don't know if it could have gone much better. Two of the favorites being able to come in No. 1 and go out No. 1 is pretty special."
In the team standings, Walsh's women finished tied for 19th with Azusa Pacific, Lewis, Roberts Wesleyan, and Virginia State Universities. All five teams finished with 13 points. The men's team also finished tied for 19th with Lee University. Both teams tallied 12 points.