The indoor track and field teams headed to Cornell University over the weekend, where they stepped into competition against Division I Cornell and various other Division III schools. The invitational was non-scoring, and both teams were more focused on this week’s upcoming contest – the New York State Collegiate Track Conference Championships. However, this didn’t stop them from having impressive performances.
Junior Mike Burgstrom continued his reign of greatness in the weight throw, placing second in the event, only coming in behind a Cornell athlete. His throw of 17.56 meters was a personal record and brought him even higher in the national rankings. He also placed 17th in the shot put with a throw of 12.63 meters. Fellow junior Eric Scheele also gave the ‘Jackets strong representation in the throwing events by placing 12th in the shot put with a distance of 13.21 and 14th in the weight throw, throwing 13.31. Sophomore Matt Starr also made his mark on the field by placing 13th in the shot. His throw was 13.12 meters.
In other field events, sophomore Travis Buttaccio placed fourth in the long jump, lunging 6.24 meters. In the pole vault, junior Dan Gloekler placed 11th by clearing the bar set at 4.20.
In the relay events, the 4×800 team took fifth, finishing in 8:28.50. The 4×400 ‘B’ team placed fourth in their race when they crossed the line at 3:34.06. The ‘A’ team did not run so that its members could participate in more individual events.
Once again, the middle to long distances were once again where the men had the greatest representation in the higher places. Senior Brian MacIlvain finished ninth in the 800 with a time of 1:59.85. Sophomores Jon Antista and Brian Kraftschik placed 12th and 14th in the 500 with times of 1:10.28 and 1:10.54, respectively. In the one-mile, senior Nick Roosa finished in 12th at 4:38.46, and sophomore Dan Chebot placed 13th in the 3000 by finishing in 9:10.53.
Freshman Sean Adams reaffirmed his strength amongst the older athletes by placing second in the 400. He finished in just 51.14 seconds. He also placed 12th in the 200, finishing in 23.72, while sophomore Marquis Turner finished just behind him with a time of 23.85, good enough for 13th.
Sophomore Kevin Easton participated in the New York State Pentathlon championships – his first pentathlon ever – over the weekend. He placed tenth overall.
“Kevin is going to be a very good multi-eventer,” men’s head coach John Izzo said.
The women’s team also had an impressive weekend, bringing home six more Eastern College Athletic Conference Championship qualifications.
They also received strength from their freshmen, having young representation in nearly every event. In the 60-meter dash, freshman Melissa Skevington finished in 8.59 seconds, which put her in 14th. In the 800, freshmen Sadie Gollub and Suzanne Giunta placed 11th and 15th, respectively, finishing in 2:26.60 and 2:32.85.
“The meet was very competitive and gave everyone a nice chance to perform well,” women’s head coach Barbara Hartwig said. “Most people limited their entries so they could concentrate their efforts.”
In the 1000, junior Kellie Hasselwander came away with the big finish and an ECAC qualification, placing fourth overall with a time of 3:07.38, but four freshmen finished in the top 20. Freshman Allison McComb placed 11th with a time of 3:14.71, and freshman Hilary Haefner placed 13th at 3:15.21.
In the 500, UR took third through fifth, all good for qualifications. Junior Stacie Woods finished in third with a time of 1:21.83, freshman Prashanthi Chodagiri placed fourth with a time of 1:22.66 and senior Whitney Silkworth crossed the line at 1:22.95. In the one mile, sophomore Chelsea McGuire placed 10th, finishing in 5:39.84. Junior Michelle Andrews also took a big one, placing third in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 9.58.
In the relay events, the 4×800 ‘A’ team, consisting of Hasselwander, Haefner, Chodagiri and Gollub, qualified by placing second with a finish in 10:01.18, the ‘B’ team placed third, finishing in 10:28.70 and the ‘C’ team finished sixth with a time of 10:38.26.
In the field events, junior Anjuli Cherukuri placed sixth in the pole vault, clearing 3.15 meters. In the long jump, Skevington landed at 4.92 meters for 10th, and freshman Kyra Pinsky jumped 4.77 for 12th. In the triple jump, Skevington made it 10.49 for sixth and Pinsky made her mark at 9.85 to finish 11th.
Sophomore Jonelle Redhead finished seventh in the weight throw by throwing 14.21 meters. She also placed 10th in the shot put, throwing 10.34. Senior Kate Odian placed eighth in the weight throw with a distance of 13.91. Sophomore Bridget Mayne placed 10th in the weight throw, throwing 12.79 and she tied with freshman Elise Scheid for 14th in the shot put. They threw 10.07 meters.
One of the biggest successes of the weekend came from sophomore Jamie Landry, who finished fourth in the NYS Pentathlon championships. She earned 3,072 points, qualified for ECACs and nearly qualified for nationals in the long jump. This finish starts the team with five points in the NYSCTC championships this weekend at St. Lawrence University.
“The money is in the bank and the best thing we can do this week is rest up and sharpen up for the next two weekends,” Hartwig said in reference to the women’s meet. “I think we can expect some really good performances from the group.”Philbrick is a member of the class of 2009.
