Youngstown State's Embry, Jarrett, Sturtz and Oakland's Vitella named to #HLTF Weekly Honors

INDIANAPOLIS – Youngstown State freshman Marcellus Embry (Cleveland, Ohio) and Youngstown State senior Ciara Jarrett (Milwaukee, Wis.) have been named Horizon League Indoor Track Runners of the Week for the week of Feb. 18-24. Meanwhile, Oakland sophomore Gino Vitella (Sterling Heights, Mich.) and Youngstown State freshman Mackenzie Sturtz have been named Horizon League Indoor Track Athletes of the Week.

Embry posted his second win of the season in the 200m dash at the Akron Zips Invitational. His time of 21.97 was .23 seconds off the top mark in the League this season, which Embry set Feb. 7 at the YSU Invitational. He also took home third-place place honors in the 60m dash, registering a time of 7.04.

Jarrett returned to action at the Akron Zips Invitational after missing the last month. She posted a first-place finish in the 200m dash and a second-place finish in the 60m dash. In the 200m, Jarrett’s time of 24.68 marked a personal best and also stands as the best time in the League this season.

Vitella reset the Oakland school record in the shot put at the Silverston Invitational. His toss of 17.15m ranks as the second-best mark in the League this season, behind Youngstown State’s Bobby Grace. Vitella’s mark at the Silverston Invitational placed him fourth out of 17 competitors.

Sturtz continued her impressive run in the high jump at the Alex Wilson Invitational, taking home first-place honors for the second meet in a row. Her jump of 1.70m also tied her personal best and is just .01m off of the best mark in the League, which rests with teammate Chenera Lacey.

Teams will converge upon Watson and Tressel Training Site (WATTS) March 1-2 for the 2014 Horizon League Indoor Track & Field Championships. Coverage will be available on the Horizon League Network at 3:15 p.m. ET on Saturday and 12:45 p.m. ET on Sunday.

Indoor Runners of the Week:
Dec. 10:  Clay Febus (Youngstown State); Alexis Washington (Youngstown State)
Jan. 14:  Bryce Stroede (Oakland); Sammy Mondry (Oakland)
Jan. 21:  Charles Anthony (Detroit); Simbi Laaro (Milwaukee)
Jan. 28: Eric Rupe (Youngstown State); Ciara Jarrett (Youngstown State)
Feb. 4: Jeff Arirguzo (Oakland); Simbi Laaro (Milwaukee)
Feb. 11: Marcellus Embry (Youngstown State); Simbi Laaro (Milwaukee)
Feb. 18: Bryce Stroede (Oakland); Tess Ehrhardt (UIC)
Feb. 25: Marcellus Embry (Youngstown State); Ciara Jarrett (Youngstown State)

Indoor Athletes of the Week:
Dec. 10: C.J. Gozdor (Oakland); Maria Harrison (Wright State) 
Jan. 14: Seyi Ogunleye (UIC); Sarah Drozdowski (Valparaiso)
Jan. 21: Aaron Dillon (Milwaukee); Meagan Joiner (Oakland)
Jan. 28: Bobby Grace (Youngstown State); Maria Harrison (Wright State)
Feb. 4: Seyi Ogunleye (UIC); Allyson Koglin (Detroit)
Feb. 11: Connor Neu (Youngstown State); Sarah Drozdowski (Valparaiso)
Feb. 18: Nate Pozolinski (Milwaukee); Jazmin Taylor (Valparaiso)
Feb. 25: Gino Vitella (Oakland); Mackenzie Sturtz (Youngstown State)