ben boyd
Sports

Track and Field Sets Multiple MU Records at Boston University

ben boydThis past weekend, Monmouth University set five school records and posted multiple top finishes as the men’s and women’s track and field teams competed in the Scarlet and White Invitational at Boston University.

“We really wanted to take a big step forward this weekend and in many areas, we did that very well,” said Head Coach Joe Compagni. “The team brought some great energy to the meet and we need to keep building on that.”

On the men’s team, senior captain Ben Boyd set a new school record in the 400, finishing third with a time of 47.64 breaking the old record of 47.83 set in 2004 by David Wiley. 

“This has been a career goal of mine since freshman year, to break the 400 school record. I’ve had my eye on it for a while. It is extremely gratifying to finally get it, but at the same time I still need to get faster,” Boyd said. 

Sophomore All-American Dylan Capwell also set a school record, winning the 500 with a time of 1:02.54 beating the previous 2007 record set by Chris Vuono of 1:03.45. Senior Andrew Langille took first place in the 1000 meter run, running a 2:24.65, to win the 18 person field and run an IC4A qualifying time. 

IC4A for the men and ECAC for women will be held back at Boston University March 6-8 where the top competitors in each field from the region compete. 

MU’s 4×400 group of Capwell, Boyd, junior Geordan Ferguson, and sophomore Malcolm Chavis took third in the relay with a time of 3:13.61, creating another new MU school record.

Junior Ahmier Dupree and sophomore Eric Kahana finished in the top five of the 60 meter dash, with Dupree in third and Kahana in fifth. Senior Jalen Walker took third in the 60 hurdles.

For the men’s field events, senior Joey Marini won the triple jump with a leap of 15.05m, breaking his own school record. Junior Liam Vogt took fourth in the triple jump, and went on to win the long jump with a jump of 6.93m. Sophomore Bobby Fisher claimed fourth in the pole vault with a mark of 4.35m. Senior Erik Anderson came in fourth in the high jump with a jump of 2.04m. 

In throws, senior Taylor Bernstein won with a distance of 17.46m. Freshman Corey Murphy took second in the shot put at 15.90m, while junior Spencer Dimock took third in the event at 14.95m. Murphy’s mark was a new IC4A qualifier. Dimock and Bernstein also went 4-5 in the weight throw.

For the women’s team, sophomore Tionna Garner broke the MU record in the 500, running 1:13.41 and finishing first out of 13 other competitors. 

“The record I broke was Latasha Dickenson 2007 record. That was always a goal for me to break, but now that I have accomplished that I have to look to the future. I plan to keep trying to break my own record.” Garner said, “My coaches and my teammates believing in me and cheering me on really helped motivate me while running.” 

The women’s 4×400 A team comprised of Garner, sophomore Nia Driver, sophomore Antoniette Isekenegbe, and sophomore McKenna Coackley also ran a best time this year, taking seventh in 3:49.70, just under the ECAC qualifying mark. 

In her first meet back after a minor hamstring injury, freshman Domoah Kutu-Akoi claimed fifth in the 60 with a time of 7.75 seconds. Kutu-Akoi also claimed a spot in the long jump as she finished seventh. 

Junior Sydney Engelberger was the second college-level finisher in the mile, placing third overall with a time of 4:56.12. Engelberger’s time not only qualified her for the ECAC’s but also gave her a new personal best. Sophmore Jenna Cupp took ninth in the 800 running 2:11.27. 

Senior caption Lauren McDonald took fourth in a 26 person field in the pole vault, vaulting 3.65m. Senior Kimberly Price finished sixth in the triple jump, jumping 11.30m, a season best. Senior captain Taylor Johnson took sixth in shot put with a mark of 12.57m. Johnson was also sixth in the weight throw with a distance of 16.37m. 

“Our team is getting better every week, I’m really getting excited about the conference championship which is two weeks away on February 21st,” Johnson said. 

The men’s and women’s track and field teams will host their biggest meet ever, the Monmouth Winter Collegiate Open this Saturday, Feb. 14, at The MAC in West Long Branch. Events are expected to begin at 9 am.

PHOTO COURTESY of Brian Hester