February 12, 2025

Unique Collaboration

Wittenberg Track & Field co-hosts Gem City Invitational with University of Dayton in state-of-the-art campus facility

Track Athletes in Wittenberg's Steemer Fieldhouse

After The Steemer was unveiled to the public during Wittenberg University’s Homecoming Weekend festivities in October 2019, the facility almost immediately attracted attention as an outstanding place for track and field teams to practice and compete.

Each year since then, Wittenberg Track & Field has hosted at least three indoor intercollegiate meets, always attracting large fields that include top teams from all NCAA divisions. In the 2024-25 indoor season, Wittenberg added a fourth event, but this one was the result of a unique co-hosting situation.

On Saturday, Feb. 8, Wittenberg Track & Field co-hosted the Gem City Invitational with the University of Dayton Women’s Track & Field in The Steemer, the first-ever home event for the Flyer program that also served as a senior celebration for five student-athletes. The invitational also included NCAA Division I scholarship programs, Miami (Ohio), Northern Kentucky, Ohio University, Wright State, Ball State, and Xavier, in addition to Wilmington, a member of NCAA Division III like Wittenberg.

“The opportunity to host the Gem City Invitational and create a senior day for our Track & Field/Cross Country seniors at The Steemer and work with Coach (Paris) Hilliard and the Wittenberg staff is truly an honor,” said Aaron Gordon, UD’s associate head track & field coach. “They are one of the most efficient and professional staffs I have ever been around and worked with. I would also like to thank Athletic Director Brian Agler and Wittenberg University for giving us the opportunity to host the first indoor track meet in the history of The University of Dayton."

The Steemer is such an amazing venue for track and field; first and foremost because it has an extremely fast surface with wide lanes. The amount of space and the general set up of the facility were extremely well-planned in the construction of the facility. I would say The Steemer is one of the best facilities in the region for track and field, and one of the best flat 300-meter tracks/facilities in the country across all divisions. I have been to countless MAC, ACC, SEC, and Division II facilities that boast 300-meter flat tracks, and The Steemer stands out with the best of them. It is truly a spectacle of a venue, and it wouldn't surprise me if they hosted Division III Indoor Nationals in the future.

University of Dayton Associate Head Track & Field Coach

Hilliard, who serves as director of the cross country and track and field programs at Wittenberg, certainly agrees with Gordon’s assessment of The Steemer. The facility is the site of at least two high school meets each year, and it accommodates numerous high school, club, and college teams for training sessions throughout the year.

"The Steemer is truly one of the best facilities anywhere, regardless of division,” Hilliard said. “We are very fortunate to have such an elite facility. It was great to be able to partner with Coach Gordon and UD to help them provide a great senior day recognition. This joint venture also provided an excellent competitive environment for all athletes. Our team members are always excited to challenge themselves against strong competition, and this allowed them to do just that."

The Tigers are hosting one more home event in the 2024-25 indoor season. The Wittenberg Invite will take place in The Steemer on Saturday, Feb. 22, starting at 11 a.m.

Ryan Maurer

Associate Director of Athletics for Communications, Web Strategy & Content

About Wittenberg

Wittenberg's curriculum has centered on the liberal arts as an education that develops the individual's capacity to think, read, and communicate with precision, understanding, and imagination. We are dedicated to active, engaged learning in the core disciplines of the arts and sciences and in pre-professional education grounded in the liberal arts. Known for the quality of our faculty and their teaching, Wittenberg has more Ohio Professors of the Year than any four-year institution in the state. The university has also been recognized nationally for excellence in community service, sustainability, and intercollegiate athletics. Located among the beautiful rolling hills and hollows of Springfield, Ohio, Wittenberg offers more than 100 majors, minors and special programs, enviable student-faculty research opportunities, a unique student success center, service and study options close to home and abroad, a stellar athletics tradition, and successful career preparation.

Unique Collaboration

Ryan Maurer

About Wittenberg

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