Christopher Columbus High School Graduate Rodriguez Highlights Capital Men's Track and Field Recruiting Class

2014 Jun 19

Joe Rodriguez, a native of Miami Springs, FL, and graduate of Christopher Columbus High School, is one of 32 student-athletes (14 men, 18 women) to deposit and commit to the Capital University track and field and/or cross country programs this fall, Crusaders director of cross country/track and field Kunle Lawson announced.

Last fall, the women's cross country team placed ninth at the Ohio Athletic Conference Championships, while the men finished 10th. Five runners - three women and two men - competed at the NCAA Great Lakes Regional. Together, the teams posted seven times in the school's all-time top 20 in three different races.

The track and field teams combined to earn six All-OAC honors and set or tie seven school records during the 2013-14 campaign. The women finished seventh at the OAC Indoor Championships and eighth at the OAC Outdoor Championships, while the men placed 10th at both events. Senior sprinter Caitlin Prange (Columbus, Ohio) won the conference title in the indoor 200-meter dash in a then-school record time.

Cross country and track and field student-athletes combined for 11 Academic All-OAC accolades throughout the season.

Lawson enters his fourth year at Capital and his third at the helm of both the cross country and track and field teams. He has helped the track and field programs achieve 40 school records and three NCAA Division III Championship qualifiers since taking over as head coach in 2011.

The cross country teams open the season on Aug. 30 at the University of Dayton's Flyer 5K. The track and field teams begin with the Purple and White Invite on Dec. 5 at the Capital Center.

Joe Rodriguez

Miami Springs, FL/Christopher Columbus High School

Rodriguez participated in track and field at Christopher Columbus High School. He was also a member of the state runner-up football team there and is part of the Capital football team's recruiting class.