Tiger Track & Field Preps for Title Contention Again in 2025-26
Wittenberg’s track and field teams are back in action with the first of four home events in The Steemer on Dec. 6, and expectations are as high as ever.
Led by Paris Hilliard, director of track and cross country at Wittenberg, the Tigers open with a busy week that includes multi-events specialists competing at the Oiler Opener at the University of Findlay in Findlay, Ohio, on Dec. 4-5, and the team's traditional home opener, appropriately titled the Tiger Opener, on Dec. 6. The Tigers will go on to compete in three meets in January, four in February, five in March, five in April, and four more in May. After their busy December week, they will take a break until Jan. 17, when they head to the Wooster Invitational.
Other home meets include the Steemer Showcase on Jan. 31, the Wittenberg Invite on Feb. 21, which is also Senior Recognition Day, and the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Indoor Championships on Feb. 27-28.
On the men’s side, Witt will be led by seniors Cameron Elliott (Springfield, OH / Springfield) and sophomore Jack Kittle (Chagrin Falls, OH / Chagrin Falls), both of whom received all-region honors last season. As a freshman Kittle finished the season ranked second in the region and 14th nationally in the 200-meter dash with a time of 21.10 recorded at the Otterbein Invitational, and he also ranked third in the region and 14th in the nation in the 400-meter dash with a time of 47.11 recorded at Augustana's Midwest Twilight Final Qualifier. He earned a pair of All-America awards as well.
The Tiger men are also looking for big things from sophomores Kory Davis (Brookville, OH / Brookville) and Elijah Simmons (Jacksonville, FL / Groveport Madison), juniors Owen Bier (Elyria, OH / Midview), Max Martindale (Mason, OH / Lakota West), and Lukas Rieben (Clayton, OH / Northmont), and seniors Lucas Eisele (West Carrollton, OH / West Carrollton), and Riley Payne (Hamilton, OH / Trenton Edgewood), all of whom have been big point-scorers for the team in past seasons.
The men will field a young team this season with 27 freshmen, nine sophomores, seven juniors, and 10 seniors on the roster.
On the women’s side, the Tigers return several top performers, including Tymeerah De'Armond (Springfield, OH / Springfield), Tiffany Hix (Prospect, OH / Elgin), Morgan Hunter (Rockford, OH / Parkway), Jenna Delp (Canton, OH / GlenOak), Maddi Clark (Mentor, OH / Mentor), Emma Hawk (Marion, Ohio / River Valley), Mackenzie Kelley (Altoona, PA / Altoona Area) and Abbey Danne (Johnstown, OH / Big Walnut), just to name a few.
The women’s roster features just five seniors, nine juniors, 11 sophomores, and eight freshmen.
Written By: Cindy Holbrook
Graphic By: Olivia Witman & Ally White '26