Race Results

CLAREMONT, CALIF. – Otterbein University senior Austin Curbow saw his outstanding career come to a close Friday evening, finishing tenth overall and missing the cut in the preliminaries of the 110-meter hurdles at the NCAA Division III Track and Field Championships, held at Fritz B. Burns Stadium.

The winner in each of the three heats, plus the next six fastest times advanced to Saturday’s nine-man final. Seeded 20th in the 20-runner field, Curbow posted a personal-best time of 14.60 despite slipping out of the blocks, finishing fourth in his heat but barely missing the cut by one spot and less than a tenth of a second.

“I generally have a solid start so I’m used to getting out on everybody,” Curbow said shortly afterwards. “I was pressing as hard as I possibly could between hurdles three and seven to make up some ground, but unfortunately my trail leg caught the last hurdle. I didn’t necessarily have the outdoor season that I hoped for as a senior, but I know that I’ve had a great career when I look back on everything.”

Curbow ends his time at Otterbein as a three-time indoor All-American and two-time NCAA Championships outdoor qualifier. He won seven Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) titles along the way, setting a school record in the 55-meter hurdles (7.53) and a conference record in the 60-meter hurdles (7.98) that still stand today. He was defeated just twice by an OAC athlete over his four seasons.

“He ran a personal best time despite some trouble at the beginning,” head coach Dave Lehman said. “It’s disappointing in a way, but certainly nothing to hang his head about. Most kids just dream of getting to a national meet and he’s been here five times. He’s meant so much to our program and he’s been able to have a lot of great experiences along the way.”

Junior Kristen Bennett concludes Otterbein’s stay at the national meet Saturday afternoon, competing in the triple jump at 3 p.m. (PT)