Most Outstanding Performers Named For NCAA DIII Championships

NEW ORLEANS — Not too long ago, hundreds of NCAA Division III student-athletes battled for the right to be called national champion at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Waverly, Iowa.

Little did they know they were also vying for the annual title of Most Oustanding Performer of the Meet, an honor given out to the top male and female scorers on the track and in the field.

Scoring is a bit different for this award, but here’s how it works: Winners are determined using a formula that takes into account team points scored, plus meet records (five additional points), Division III season bests based on the converted qualifying lists (three points) and facility records (one point). Relay points, if applicable, are split equally between the four team members.

When the dust settled, the Most Outstanding Track Performers of the Meet were Salisbury’s Luke Campbell and Baldwin Wallace’s Melanie Winters, while the Most Outstanding Field Performers of the Meet were UW-Eau Claire’s Alex Mess and Ithaca’s Katherine Pitman.

Very few men in NCAA DIII history pulled off the double that Campbell did in Iowa.

Early in the afternoon on Championship Saturday, Campbell made quick work of the hurdle field at 110 meters and beat division-leading Dan Arnold of UW-Platteville. That was Campbell’s fourth consecutive individual title in that event.

Two hours later, Campbell doubled back in the 400 hurdles and won going away. The senior from Brunswick, Maryland was one of three men under the former stadium record of 51.71 — but to the victor go the spoils as Campbell’s time of 50.52 stands tall.

Mess knew the Blugolds needed big points in order to complete the vaunted Triple Crown — cross country, indoor and outdoor titles in the same academic year — and tried his best to provide those.

During the shot put, Mess cruised to a near nine-inch win over Whitworth’s Corey Burt. Mess’ fourth throw sailed 18.17m (59-7½) and established a new seasonal best in DIII.

The senior from Lake Mills, Wisconsin improved by leaps and bounds in the discus throw to add four points to UW-Eau Claire’s tally. Mess entered the meet ranked 13th in the nation, but finished fourth overall.

Winters, a senior from Stow, Ohio, showed no mercy to the fields in the 100 hurdles and 200 meters. In the former, Winters ripped off a time of 13.78 to set a stadium record and set a new seasonal best in DIII. Then in the 200, Winters clocked a winning time of 24.67 to give the Yellow Jackets 10 points.

While it had no bearing on her being named Most Outstanding Female Track Athlete of the Meet, Winters also placed second in the long jump.

Then we have Pitman, who saved her best for last at NCAAs.

Pitman, a junior from Swampscott, Massachusetts, was the last vaulter left after clearing 4.00m (13-1½). She could have stopped there, but she wasn’t done — not by a long shot.

The junior passed at 4.05m (13-3½), topped 4.10m (13-5¼) on her first try and pushed the bar to 4.21m (13-9¾) to go for a meet record. Sure enough, Pitman clutched it out with a third-attempt clearance.