Coming off their first scoring meet this season, the future of the Yellowjackets’ men’s indoor track and field team looked quite promising. Scoring in 13 of 18 possible events, UR finished a sound third place out of eight teams on Sat. at the St. Lawrence University Invitational. They also had three more teams and two more individuals qualify for the Eastern College Athletic Conference Championships.
The Yellowjackets delivered champions in two events – the 400-meter run and the 4×400-meter relay.
Senior Matt Tierney won the 400-meter with a time of 51.12, which qualified him for the New York State championships. The 4×400-meter relay team, comprised of Tierney, senior Kirk Bristol and juniors Brian MacIlvain and Jake Pylman were champions with a time of 3:27.34, fast enough to get them to the ECACs.
Freshman Marquis Turner had a pair of runner-up finishes in the 55-meter dash and the 200-meter dash. He was followed by sophomore Max Ehrmann, who placed fourth, in the 55-meter dash. Tierney, who placed fourth and Bristol, who placed fifth, were close behind Turner in the 200-meter dash. Turner also ran the second leg of the second place of the 4×200-meter relay which clocked in at 1:34.41, providing the team with a ticket to the ECAC championships. Running along with him in the 4×200-meter relay were Ehrmann, sophomore Justin Papariella and freshman Travis Buttaccio.
The distance medley of senior Chris Nolan, freshmen Brian Kraftschik and Brian Wilsey and sophomore Mark Stevens was third with a time of 10:34.78, which qualified them for ECACs, as well.
In the field events, sophomore Eric Scheele was third in the shot put, throwing 13.79 meters – good for NYS championships. Sophomore Mike Burgstrom was third in the weight throw, with 15.02 meters, which qualified him for the ECAC championships. Sophomore Daniel Gloekler was third in the pole vault at a height of 3.75 meters.
This Sat., the Yellowjackets travel to Syracuse University for the Syracuse Invitational.
Philbrick can be reached at ephilbrick@campustimes.org.
