Davenport to run at ONU

Kokomo Tribune - Thursday, May 14, 2015

When Western runner Auston Davenport looked at Ohio Northern University, he saw a lot to like.

“I felt the campus was the right size for me. The coaches were supportive. The team was like mine here at Western,” Davenport said.

Davenport recently signed to run cross country and track with the Polar Bears. The NCAA Division III school is located in Ada, Ohio.

“I think I’ll fit in just right,” he said. “I have a lot to learn and I’m ready to take on the challenge to being in the top spots.”

He plans to study accounting.

Davenport helped Western’s cross country team win the Mid-Indiana Conference meet all four years of his high school career. The Panthers also won Logansport Sectional titles in 2012 and ‘13. They had to settle for a runner-up finish in ‘14, but followed with a solid showing in the Culver Academy Regional to advance as a team to the New Prairie Semistate.

Davenport had a solid senior campaign. He finished fifth in the MIC meet with a time of 18:03, eighth in the sectional (17:35), 28th in the regional (18:09) and 126th in the semistate (18:10.3). The always-loaded semistate had a field of 180 runners.

He has been running well for the Panther track team this spring. A versatile performer, he has tackled everything from the 400 dash to the 3,200 run. At the Mid-Indiana Conference meet on Tuesday, he ran the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 runs individually and ran the opening leg on the winning 4x800 relay team.

Last year, Davenport was part of Western’s 4x800 relay team that reached the State Finals. That quartet dazzled at the South Bend St. Joseph Regional, running an 8:05.45 to break the school record and all-time area best.

The Panthers’ distance runners are a competitive group, which Davenport appreciates.“

I want to thank my teammates for pushing me to be

Western cross country and track coach Gary Jewell has seen Davenport grow from a raw freshman with little running experience into a college-level runner.

“He had the opportunity last spring to run in the state meet with our 4x800 relay and he was a big part of that,”Jewell said.

“He has been instrumental this year with our distance runners. He is the only senior distance runner on the track team. He was the one who got everybody together in the winter. He has become a team leader.”

Jewell noted Davenport’s combination of speed and drive gives him the potential to drop good time in college.