The track and field teams competed in a pair of meets this past weekend. The first was the Larry Ellis Invitational hosted by Princeton University, followed by the Greyhound Invitational at Moravian College the next day.
The team performed well at both meets, but the marks from the Greyhound Invitational were overwhelming. Freshman Dennie Waite won the 1,500-meter race, clocking a personal best and meet record of 3:38.31 and qualifying for the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Championship.
Freshman TJ Bocchino was an ECAC qualifier in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, placing third (9:52.96). Senior Andy Lim earned two ECAC distances in the jumping events, taking sixth in the triple jump (13.18 meters) and ninth in the long jump (6.56 meters).
Freshman hurdler Kyle Gilroy placed in both the 110- and 400-meter hurdles. In the 110 high hurdles, Gilroy placed sixth (15.21). He was ninth in the 400 hurdles, finishing in 55.92 seconds. Both of these times met ECAC standards.
In the 800-meter, senior Josh Krowicki claimed fifth in 1:57.77. Freshman Tim Blashford cleared 14.3 meters in the pole vault, taking ninth.
Freshman Jule Brooks earned a ECAC time in the 400 meters. Brooks was 12th in the race with a time of 50.34 seconds. He also added a 14th-place performance in the 200-meter.
Sophomore Steve Liccketto threw a personal best in the hammer throw (41.82 meters).
The women added numerous ECAC marks and two more NCAA provision marks at the Greyhound Invitational.
In the 3,000 steeplechase, sophomore Michelle Wallace took first and captured an ECAC-worthy time (11:56.27).
Senior Jessica Bonelli won the 200-meter, finishing in 25.16 seconds. Later, she was part of the NCAA provisional time-earning 4x100-meter relay team. Freshman Meryl Wimberly, sophomore Priscilla Senyah and junior Kristen Tricocci joined Bonelli for a combined time of 48.64 seconds.
Bonelli also captured an ECAC slot in the 100-meter. She placed fifth in 12.59 seconds.
The ladies had three runners place in the top 20 of the 400-meter race, all earning ECAC marks. Spadaccini finished in 58.32 seconds, followed by Wimberly in 59.08 seconds, and freshman Alexandra Tomaselli at 60.09 seconds.
Junior Justine Carnevale had a personal best in the 1,500-meter run. She was fifth in a time of 4:59.08. Additionally, sophomore Meghan Miller was sixth in the 400-meter hurdles with an ECAC time of 66.09 seconds.
The women's team had a strong showing at the Larry Ellis Invitational in the 800-meter race. Junior Stephanie Herrick led the way as she finished third in the race. Herrick clocked an automatic NCAA time of 2:10.44. Teammate Jianna Spadaccini also met an NCAA provisional time, picking up a 14th-place finished with a time of 2:14.75. Completing the Lions' appearance in the event was Wimberly, who took 20th in the large field and earned an ECAC-worthy time of 2:15.75.
Junior Martine McGrath met ECAC standards in the 5,000-meter and earned fifth place (17:55.06).
For the men, junior Pasquale DiGioacchino qualified for the ECAC Championships in the 800-meter (1:54.92). In the 3,000-meter steeplechase, senior Galen Johnson earned a place in the ECAC Championship, finishing in 9:38.27.
The teams will continue their seasons this weekend as they host their second home meet, the Lions' Invitational. Competition is scheduled to begin on Saturday at 4 p.m.
