Athletic Director Jeff Konya might need more trophy space soon.

Oakland women’s track and field won the Horizon League Women’s indoor track and field championship on Sunday, Feb. 28, the seventh conference title for Oakland Athletics this academic year. The men’s team placed third in the meet with 126, behind Milwaukee’s 132 and Youngstown State’s 197.

The women reached for victory in the 3000 meter run.

“We were down 21 points and we put it on the shoulders of our distance runners,” Oakland head coach Paul Rice said in the post-meet GrizzVision interview. “And they answered the call. They scored 31 points.”

The Oakland women won their first-ever Horizon League indoor track and field championship with 159 points, barely beating out Youngstown State, the host at the Watson and Tressel Training Site, who had 155.

The Golden Grizzlies sealed the deal in the last event, the 4×400 relay.  They placed fourth with a time of 3:56.44 and secured 5 points.

“It was like a victory lap for us,” Rice said.  “It was something I’ve never seen or experienced before. It was just an awesome day all around. Awesome weekend.”

Senior Miranda Haas was named outstanding performer for running events, Rachel Levy secured freshman of the year for running events and Rice was dubbed women’s coach of the year.

Eight Oakland women posted podium finishes.

Haas won the 5000 meter in 17:36.67.  Oakland gained 22 points thanks to Haas, Sammy Mondry and Kaitlin Catania, who placed within the top eight.

Levy won the 3000 meter in 9:58.19 and placed third in the mile. Haas got second in the 3000m.

Sophomore Kendell Jefferson broke the school record in the 60 meter dash, placing second with 7.62 seconds.

 “These are trophies that the team won. The coach of the year award is awesome but it’s a team award,” Rice said.  “We have an awesome team, awesome coaches and we are just really flying high right now.”

Ten Oakland men posted podium finishes.

Junior Nicholas Girodat broke two school records: the 60m dash (6.89) and 200 (21.62).

Bryce Stroede was Individual Scoring Champion and broke the Horizon League and Oakland record in the mile with a time of 4:05.04.

Christopher Scott won the 800 meter in 1:54.21

Both the men and women’s team placed higher than Detroit, meaning that for the second year in a row, Oakland won the track and field Metro Series.