Coach Townsend's Horizon League Champions
Sprints and hurdles coach David Townsend has done a masterful job turning Youngstown State into one of the premier running programs in the nation.
While being a force in the Horizon League for nearly 16 years, YSU has also elevated its standing on the national stage over the past decade.
Since 2016, Townsend has coached athletes who have qualified for five NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, and at one point, the Penguins were represented at four consecutive NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships.
Chad Zallow was one of the nation's top hurdlers under Townsend's direction, earning first-team All-America honors at the 2017 and 2018 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships. In 2017, he finished a career-best third in the 60-meter hurdles and followed with a fifth-place finish in 2018. In 2019, Zallow placed ninth in the 60-meter hurdles to earn second-team All-America honors.
Zallow also earned second-team All-America honors in the 110-meter hurdles at the 2017 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships after placing ninth. During the season, he ran one of the nation's fastest times at 13.37 seconds. In 2018, he finished 15th in the 110-meter hurdles at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, earning second-team All-America honors for the second consecutive year. Zallow advanced to four NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships and placed in the top nine each year, with a best finish of third in 2017.
Harden qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships twice during his career. Harden finished a career-best 18th in the 400-meter hurdles in 2021 after placing 22nd in his first appearance in 2019. He later competed in the event at the U.S. Olympic Trials.
Luke Laubacher advanced to the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the 110-meter hurdles for the first time in his career in 2024. Laubacher placed 21st in the event in Eugene, Oregon, and earned honorable mention All-America honors. On the women's side, Jaliyah Elliott qualified for the 2019 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships in the 60-meter dash.
Against Horizon League competition, the Penguins have dominated the sprint and hurdle events since 2017.
During the 2025 outdoor season, Laubacher won his fourth consecutive Horizon League title in the 110-meter hurdles, becoming the first athlete in league history to accomplish the feat. He advanced to the quarterfinals of the NCAA East Preliminary Round for the second straight year. Micah Mitchell also made his first NCAA East Preliminary Round appearance in the 110-meter hurdles.
At the Horizon League Championships, the men won the 4x100-meter relay. Michael Ballone placed second in the 400-meter hurdles, Clancy Chrystal finished second in the 110-meter hurdles and Jake McIntyre was runner-up in the 200-meter dash. On the women's side, Mariah Day won the 100-meter dash, giving YSU a champion in the event for the 14th consecutive year. Melody Harloff (400-meter run) and Bee (100-meter hurdles) added runner-up finishes. During the season, Bee broke the school record in the 100-meter hurdles.
During the indoor season, Laubacher won the 60-meter hurdles for the third time at the Horizon League Championships. Mitchell also placed second in the event. Laubacher was named the Alfreeda Goff Indoor Athlete of the Year. On the women's side, Day placed second in the 60-meter hurdles in her Horizon League debut.
In 2024, Harry Barton and Laubacher captured Horizon League hurdle titles during the outdoor season, and both advanced to the NCAA East Preliminary Round. Laubacher won his third consecutive 110-meter hurdles title, while Barton claimed his second straight 400-meter hurdles crown. At the Horizon League Championships, Laubacher finished second and Ford placed third in the 200-meter dash. In the 100-meter dash, Ford was runner-up and Laubacher placed third. Barton finished second in the 400-meter run and set a school record that had stood since 2008. YSU placed first, third and fourth in both the 400-meter hurdles and 110-meter hurdles.
On the women's side, Nia Grose won the 100-meter dash for the first Horizon League title of her career. In the 400-meter run, Harloff earned runner-up honors.
During the indoor season, Cyncere Cunningham placed second in the 60-meter dash. In the men's 60-meter dash, YSU had four of the top six finishers. In the men's 200-meter dash, the Penguins had five of the top seven finishers as Daimere Stephens-Stewart won his first career Horizon League title. Barton also won his first career indoor 400-meter title. Laubacher captured the 60-meter hurdles title, while Mitchell placed third.
In 2023, Jahniya Bowers, who later became an NCAA champion, led the women's sprinters while Laubacher completed an indoor-outdoor sweep of the men's hurdles titles.
Bowers turned in an impressive performance at the NCAA East Preliminary Round, placing 16th in the 100-meter dash. In the first round, she set a school record with a time of 11.22 seconds to advance to the quarterfinals. At the Horizon League Championships, Bowers won the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes for the second time in her career. The Penguins also won the 4x100-meter relay with a school-record time of 45.36 seconds. Kyndia Matlock placed third in both the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes.
During the indoor season, Bowers won the 60-meter and 200-meter dashes at the Horizon League Championships, while Matlock placed second in the 200-meter dash and fourth in the 60-meter dash. Madison Murry finished second in the 60-meter hurdles. The women's 4x400-meter relay team helped YSU clinch the team title with a strong finish. During the league meet, Murry set the school record in the 60-meter hurdles. During the season, Bowers tied the school record in the 60-meter dash for the second time and set a school record in the 200-meter dash.
For the men, Laubacher won the 60-meter hurdles at the Horizon League Indoor Championships and the 110-meter hurdles at the Horizon League Outdoor Championships. Barton captured his first career 400-meter hurdles title and competed at the NCAA East Preliminary Round for the first time. At the indoor championships, YSU had three of the top eight finishers in the 60-meter dash and two finishers in the 200-meter dash.
At the Horizon League Outdoor Championships, Anthony Woods established himself as the league's fastest man by winning the 100-meter dash. Woods crossed the finish line in 10.35 seconds to claim the title. On the women's side, Matlock won the 100-meter dash, while Suerethia Henderson captured the 200-meter dash title, the first Horizon League championship of her career. In the hurdle events, Laubacher won the 110-meter hurdles, and Murry claimed the 100-meter hurdles title.
Collin Harden was the headliner in 2021 after winning both the 110-meter hurdles and 400-meter hurdles at the Horizon League Championships. He advanced to the NCAA East Preliminary Round, where he placed sixth in the event. At the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon, Harden finished 18th in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 51.06 seconds to earn honorable mention All-America honors.
Christian Ford and Bowers captured their first Horizon League titles in May. Ford won the 100-meter dash, while Bowers claimed titles in both the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes. The women's 4x100-meter relay team of Logan Franczkowski, Teneisha Myers, Matlock and Bowers posted a time of 46.35 seconds to win the event title.
At the Horizon League Indoor Championships, Murry won the 60-meter hurdles, while Matlock captured the 60-meter dash title and placed second in the 60-meter hurdles to lead the women's squad.
In 2020, the men's team won the 60-meter dash, 200-meter dash and 60-meter hurdles at the Horizon League Indoor Championships, while the women captured titles in the 60-meter and 200-meter dashes and scored 67 points across three sprint events.
Dakari Carter won the 60-meter dash, marking the sixth consecutive year and eighth time in nine years that a Penguin captured the event title. The freshman also won the 200-meter dash and was named the Horizon League Freshman of the Year on the track.
Harden closed out his indoor career by scoring 19 points across three events at the league championships. The senior won his first 60-meter hurdles title, finished runner-up in the 400-meter run and placed eighth in the 200-meter dash. Harden recorded the second-fastest 60-meter hurdles time in school history when he clocked 7.91 seconds at the YSU Icebreaker on Dec. 6.
Elliott capped one of the most decorated careers in program history by being named the Alfreeda Goff Indoor Female Athlete of the Year. She won the 60-meter dash for the third consecutive season and the 200-meter dash for the second straight year at the league championships. Elliott became just the fourth sprinter in Horizon League history to win three consecutive 60-meter dash titles. She also broke her own school record in the 200-meter dash with a time of 23.66 seconds in the finals.
After falling as low as third in the team standings, the women's sprinters scored 67 points across the 60-meter, 200-meter and 400-meter runs. In the 60-meter dash, the Penguins scored 30 points and claimed the top four spots as Elliott placed first, Bowers second, Henderson third and Matlock fourth.
The Penguins added 29 points in the 200-meter dash and again swept the top four places. Elliott won the event, Henderson finished second, Bowers placed third and Myers came in fourth. Earlier in the meet, Myers earned runner-up honors in the 400-meter run.
Bowers made an immediate impact by earning Horizon League Freshman of the Year honors on the track and recording the second-fastest 60-meter dash time in school history. She clocked 7.38 seconds at the YSU Icebreaker.
At the 2019 Horizon League Indoor Championships, the men's team captured titles in the 60-meter dash, 200-meter dash and 60-meter hurdles. The Penguins also won the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash, 110-meter hurdles, 400-meter hurdles and 4x100-meter relay at the Horizon League Outdoor Championships.
The Penguins claimed the top three finishes in both the 60-meter dash and 60-meter hurdles while also placing four athletes among the top four finishers in the 200-meter dash. Chad Zallow won the 60-meter dash and 60-meter hurdles for the fourth consecutive year and captured the 200-meter dash title for the third straight season. He broke an 18-year-old school record in the 60-meter dash with a time of 6.72 seconds on Jan. 18 before lowering the mark to 6.69 seconds on Feb. 24.
Zallow was named the championships' Most Outstanding Performer on the track and the Horizon League Indoor Athlete of the Year. He also qualified for the 2019 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships, where he placed ninth in the 60-meter hurdles to earn second-team All-America honors.
At the Horizon League Outdoor Championships, the men claimed the top four finishes in the 100-meter dash, four of the top five places in the 110-meter hurdles and the top two spots in the 200-meter dash. Chad Zallow swept the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash and 110-meter hurdles titles, while Harden became the first hurdler in league history to win the 400-meter hurdles title in three consecutive seasons. Harden also lowered his school record in the event to 51.01 seconds on May 5.
Chad Zallow qualified for the NCAA East Preliminary Round, where he finished 31st in the 110-meter hurdles.
Harden advanced to the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships after recording the 12th-fastest time in the 400-meter hurdles at the NCAA East Preliminary Round quarterfinals. He lowered his school record to 50.52 seconds during the competition.
At the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Harden clocked a time of 52.30 seconds to place 22nd overall and earn honorable mention All-America honors.
On the women's side, the Penguins won the 60-meter dash and 200-meter dash at the indoor championships and added titles in the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash and 4x100-meter relay during the outdoor season.
Elliott won the 60-meter dash and 200-meter dash titles, while Henderson finished runner-up in both events. Elliott broke the school record in both races on Feb. 24, running 7.25 seconds in the 60-meter dash and 23.85 seconds in the 200-meter dash. She qualified for the 2019 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships and earned second-team All-America honors after clocking 7.36 seconds in the 60-meter dash.
At the outdoor championships, Elliott won the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash, while Henderson finished second in both events. Elliott also qualified for the NCAA East Preliminary Round in the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes, placing 27th and 26th, respectively.
Elliott was named the championships' Most Outstanding Performer at both the indoor and outdoor meets and was selected as the Horizon League Outdoor Athlete of the Year.
In 2018, the women won the 60-meter dash, 200-meter dash, 60-meter hurdles and 4x400-meter relay at the Horizon League Indoor Championships. During the outdoor season, they captured titles in the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash, 100-meter hurdles and 4x100-meter relay. The men's team won the 60-meter dash, 60-meter hurdles and 200-meter dash indoors and added titles in the 100-meter dash, 110-meter hurdles and 4x100-meter relay outdoors.
In the 60-meter dash and 200-meter dash, YSU athletes finished first, second, fourth and fifth. Elliott won the 60-meter dash, while Keishawnna Burts captured the 200-meter dash title. Amber Eles claimed her second consecutive 60-meter hurdles championship. On the men's side, Zallow won the 60-meter dash, 60-meter hurdles and 200-meter dash. YSU finished first, second and fourth in the 60-meter dash and first, third and fourth in the 200-meter dash.
During the outdoor season, Burts won the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash, Eles captured the 100-meter hurdles title, Carl Zallow won the 100-meter dash and Chad Zallow claimed the 110-meter hurdles championship.
At the 2017 Horizon League Indoor Championships, the men's and women's teams swept the 60-meter dash, 60-meter hurdles and 200-meter dash. At the outdoor championships, YSU swept the men's and women's 100-meter dash titles and both hurdle events, while the women's team also captured the 200-meter dash title.
Chad Zallow won the 60-meter dash, 60-meter hurdles and 200-meter dash at the indoor championships. On the women's side, Taylor Thompkins won the 60-meter dash, Taylor McDonald captured the 200-meter dash title and Eles won the 60-meter hurdles.
At the outdoor championships, Elliott won the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash, Eles captured the 100-meter hurdles title and McDonald won the 400-meter hurdles. For the men, Chad Zallow won the 100-meter dash and 110-meter hurdles, while Harden claimed the 400-meter hurdles title. Carl Zallow finished runner-up in both the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash.
Chad Zallow was named both the Horizon League Indoor Athlete of the Year and Horizon League Outdoor Athlete of the Year.
The Penguins' men's and women's teams swept the Horizon League championships in 2017, winning both the indoor and outdoor team titles. In 2018, the women claimed both the indoor and outdoor championships, while the men captured the indoor title.
Since Townsend joined the coaching staff in 2007, the Penguins have won 77 individual Horizon League titles in the sprints and hurdles, including 43 over the previous four seasons.
In 2016, Nina Grambling capped a remarkable career by winning the 60-meter dash and 200-meter dash at the Horizon League Indoor Championships and the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash at the Horizon League Outdoor Championships. She finished her career with 13 individual conference titles. At the indoor championships, Shatasia Walker won the 60-meter hurdles, while Amber Eles claimed the 100-meter hurdles title during the outdoor season. The women also swept the relay events, winning both 4x400-meter relay titles and the 4x100-meter relay championship.
Another standout addition to Townsend's group was Chad Zallow. A highly touted recruit from Warren, Ohio, Zallow burst onto the scene by winning the 60-meter dash and 60-meter hurdles at the Horizon League Indoor Championships. He broke the school record in the 60-meter hurdles multiple times during the season and finished ninth in the event at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships to earn second-team All-America honors. Zallow was named the Horizon League Indoor Athlete of the Year and broke a 23-year-old school record in the 110-meter hurdles during the outdoor season.
In 2015, YSU sprinters won both the 60-meter dash and 200-meter dash at the Horizon League Indoor Championships, while the women also captured the 400-meter dash title. At the Horizon League Outdoor Championships, Grambling won both the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash for the second consecutive season, while the men's team claimed the 100-meter dash title.
At the indoor championships, Grambling won the 60-meter dash and 200-meter dash for the first time in her YSU career. Carl Zallow also captured both events. Jen Shiley added a victory in the 400-meter dash as the women edged Milwaukee by one point to win the team title. In the women's 60-meter dash, the Penguins finished first, third and fourth. In the men's 60-meter dash, YSU claimed the top three spots and four of the top five finishes. Both the men's and women's teams finished first and second in the 200-meter dash.
Grambling was named Female Athlete of the Year, Outstanding Track Athlete of the Meet and Individual Scoring Champion.
At the Horizon League Outdoor Championships in Michigan, Grambling earned another sweep of the sprint titles by winning the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash. It marked her third consecutive outdoor title in the 100-meter dash. On the men's side, Leighton Antonio won the 100-meter dash, while Carl Zallow finished second.
In 2014, Ciara Jarrett became the first Penguin to win the same event four times at the Horizon League Indoor Championships when she captured her fourth consecutive 200-meter dash title. At the Horizon League Outdoor Championships, Grambling won both the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash, joining Jarrett as the only Penguins to sweep those events at the outdoor meet.
As a team, the Penguins won three of the four Horizon League championships in 2014. The women claimed both the indoor and outdoor titles, while the men won their first outdoor Horizon League championship and finished second at the indoor meet.
In 2013, the YSU women won Horizon League titles in the 200-meter dash during both the indoor and outdoor seasons, while also capturing championships in the 100-meter dash and 100-meter hurdles outdoors. The men's team earned titles in the 60-meter dash and 200-meter dash at the Horizon League Indoor Championships.
Jarrett won the 200-meter dash at both the Horizon League Indoor and Outdoor Championships. At the outdoor meet, she set a Horizon League record with a time of 23.83 seconds. Grambling won the 100-meter dash, and Laura Kosiorek captured the 100-meter hurdles title. The Penguins also won the 4x100-meter relay in meet-record time. During the indoor season, Michael Davis won the 60-meter dash, while Tarelle Irwin claimed the 200-meter dash title.
Jarrett completed one of the most decorated careers in program history during her three-and-a-half seasons with the Penguins. She won 10 Horizon League championships, including seven consecutive 200-meter dash titles. She also captured two 100-meter dash championships and won the long jump at the 2014 Horizon League Indoor Championships. Jarrett did not compete at the 2014 Horizon League Outdoor Championships. The 2014 YSU Female Athlete of the Year, she placed 21st in the 200-meter dash at the 2013 NCAA Preliminary Round.
Grambling won three events at the 2014 Horizon League Outdoor Championships, capturing titles in the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash and long jump.
In 2012, Jarrett won the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash at the Horizon League Outdoor Championships. Davis finished second in the 200-meter dash, while Irwin placed third. At the Horizon League Indoor Championships, Jarrett won the 200-meter dash and finished second in the 60-meter dash. Davis captured the 60-meter dash title and placed second in the 200-meter dash, while Irwin finished third in the 200-meter dash.
At the 2011 Horizon League Indoor Championships, Jarrett won the 200-meter dash and placed third in the 60-meter dash. YSU finished first, third and fourth in the 200-meter dash. On the men's side, Davis was runner-up in the 60-meter dash by 0.01 seconds and also placed second in the 200-meter dash.
At the 2011 Horizon League Outdoor Championships, Jarrett won the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash and was named the Running Newcomer of the Year. In the 100-meter dash, YSU claimed first, third and fourth place, while the Penguins finished first and third in the 200-meter dash. On the men's side, Davis won the 200-meter dash and placed third in the 100-meter dash.
In 2010, the Penguins had multiple athletes advance to the finals of the sprint events at the Horizon League Championships.
At the Horizon League Outdoor Championships, YSU placed fourth, fifth and sixth in the women's 200-meter dash. On the men's side, Davis finished third and Irwin placed fifth in the 100-meter dash. Adam Kagarise was third in the 400-meter run, and the Penguins finished fifth, sixth and seventh in the 200-meter dash.
At the Horizon League Indoor Championships, Davis was runner-up in both the 60-meter dash and 200-meter dash, while Irwin placed third in the 200-meter dash. Symona Gregory led the women's team with a fourth-place finish in the 60-meter dash.
In 2009, Jerrill Hall broke the Horizon League record in the 60-meter hurdles with a personal-best time of 8.22 seconds to win the event title. Breanne Romeo finished second in the 400-meter dash with a time of 58.87 seconds at the Horizon League Indoor Championships.
At the Horizon League Outdoor Championships, Mark Lipinsky added a title in the 110-meter hurdles, while Hall finished second in the event. On the women's side, Romeo was runner-up in the 400-meter run with a time of 54.97 seconds. Yandeh Joh placed second in both the 100-meter hurdles (14.83 seconds) and 400-meter hurdles (1:03.28), and the 4x100-meter relay team also finished second.
In 2013, the YSU women won Horizon League titles in the 200-meter dash during both the indoor and outdoor seasons, while also capturing championships in the 100-meter dash and 100-meter hurdles outdoors. The men's team earned titles in the 60-meter dash and 200-meter dash at the Horizon League Indoor Championships.
Jarrett won the 200-meter dash at both the Horizon League Indoor and Outdoor Championships. At the outdoor meet, she set a Horizon League record with a time of 23.83 seconds. Grambling won the 100-meter dash, and Kosiorek captured the 100-meter hurdles title. The Penguins also won the 4x100-meter relay in meet-record time. During the indoor season, Davis won the 60-meter dash, while Tarelle Irwin claimed the 200-meter dash title.
Jarrett completed one of the most decorated careers in program history during her three-and-a-half seasons with the Penguins. She won 10 Horizon League championships, including seven consecutive 200-meter dash titles. She also captured two 100-meter dash championships and won the long jump at the 2014 Horizon League Indoor Championships. Jarrett did not compete at the 2014 Horizon League Outdoor Championships. The 2014 YSU Female Athlete of the Year, she placed 21st in the 200-meter dash at the 2013 NCAA Preliminary Round.
Grambling won three events at the 2014 Horizon League Outdoor Championships, capturing titles in the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash and long jump.
In 2012, Jarrett won the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash at the Horizon League Outdoor Championships. Davis finished second in the 200-meter dash, while Irwin placed third. At the Horizon League Indoor Championships, Jarrett won the 200-meter dash and finished second in the 60-meter dash. Davis captured the 60-meter dash title and placed second in the 200-meter dash, while Irwin finished third in the 200-meter dash.
At the 2011 Horizon League Indoor Championships, Jarrett won the 200-meter dash and placed third in the 60-meter dash. YSU finished first, third and fourth in the 200-meter dash. On the men's side, Davis was runner-up in the 60-meter dash by 0.01 seconds and also placed second in the 200-meter dash.
At the 2011 Horizon League Outdoor Championships, Jarrett won the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash and was named the Running Newcomer of the Year. In the 100-meter dash, YSU claimed first, third and fourth place, while the Penguins finished first and third in the 200-meter dash. On the men's side, Davis won the 200-meter dash and placed third in the 100-meter dash.
In 2010, the Penguins had multiple athletes advance to the finals of the sprint events at the Horizon League Championships.
At the Horizon League Outdoor Championships, YSU placed fourth, fifth and sixth in the women's 200-meter dash. On the men's side, Davis finished third and Irwin placed fifth in the 100-meter dash. Kagarise was third in the 400-meter run, and the Penguins finished fifth, sixth and seventh in the 200-meter dash.
At the Horizon League Indoor Championships, Davis was runner-up in both the 60-meter dash and 200-meter dash, while Irwin placed third in the 200-meter dash. Gregory led the women's team with a fourth-place finish in the 60-meter dash.
In 2009, Hall broke the Horizon League record in the 60-meter hurdles with a personal-best time of 8.22 seconds to win the event title. Romeo finished second in the 400-meter run with a time of 58.87 seconds at the Horizon League Indoor Championships.
At the Horizon League Outdoor Championships, Lipinsky added a title in the 110-meter hurdles, while Hall finished second in the event. On the women's side, Romeo was runner-up in the 400-meter run with a time of 54.97 seconds. Joh placed second in both the 100-meter hurdles (14.83 seconds) and 400-meter hurdles (1:03.28), and the 4x100-meter relay team also finished second.
At the 2008 Horizon League Indoor Championships, J.R. Hodge won the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.02 seconds to capture the league title.
During the outdoor season, the quartet of Emily Wollet, Kari Kreutzfeld, Joh and Romeo won the 4x400-meter relay with a Horizon League-record time of 3:45.72.
Townsend's sprinters played a key role in helping the women's team win both the Horizon League Indoor and Outdoor Championships in 2008.
At the Horizon League Indoor Championships, Romeo placed second in the 400-meter dash, finished seventh in the 200-meter dash and anchored YSU's 4x400-meter relay team that finished second by 0.01 seconds. Kreutzfeld won the 400-meter run, while Katie Betts earned runner-up finishes in the 60-meter dash (7.83 seconds) and 200-meter dash (25.13 seconds).
At the Horizon League Outdoor Championships, Romeo was named Newcomer of the Year after winning the 400-meter run in 55.36 seconds. Alisha Anthony, Darcelle Formby, Kreutzfeld and Betts teamed up to win the 4x100-meter relay. Romeo, Wollet, Joh and Kreutzfeld also helped YSU capture the 4x400-meter relay title.
In his first season with the Penguins in 2007, Joh became the sixth consecutive YSU hurdler to win the Horizon League title in the 60-meter hurdles. Kreutzfeld also captured the 400-meter run championship.
The success continued during the outdoor season as Aaliyah Gillespie won the 100-meter hurdles title for the third time in her career. Formby earned runner-up finishes in the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash, while Betts placed third in the 200-meter dash.
On the men's side, Eric Baltputnis earned second-team all-conference honors in the 60-meter dash during the indoor season. During the outdoor campaign, Scott Streiner placed third in both the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash at the Horizon League Championships.
A reserve tailback for the YSU football team from 1976-78, Townsend was a member of the 1978 squad that won the Mid-Continent Conference championship and earned the program's first NCAA Division II playoff victory. He scored four touchdowns during his three-year career and played under head coach Bill Narduzzi.
Townsend graduated from YSU with a bachelor's degree in combined sciences in 1981 and has worked for the Internal Revenue Service since 1979.
He and his wife, Beverly, have two sons, Dorian and Devin.
