Sports

Track & Field Shines at Princeton

Coming off a strong performance in the MAC’s Fourth Annual Classic, the track & field team traveled to Princeton this past Sunday with their heads held high for two reasons.

Errol Jeffrey was named the NEC Men’s Field Athlete of the Week because he was one out of three male throwers in the entire nation to exceed 57 feet in Track & Field’s opening weekend. “Jeffrey the Giant” threw for a total of 17.41 meters (57’ 1.5”). When asked if all this recognition adds to the pressure of success, Jeffrey said. “I do not feel any extra pressure to perform at that same or a higher level in this week’s Princeton meet because I know that I am capable of performing at a higher level based on what I see at practice and what I threw last year.”

The Princeton New Year Invitational consisted of fourteen total teams. Both the men and the women prevailed in nearly every competition they faced.

The men’s achievements came from the 60 meter hurdles as MU sent three of their men to the finals. Freshman Geordon Ferguson finished first with a time of 8.25, junior Jalen Walker who was close behind with a time of 8.29 landing in second, and senior Chris Rutherford who crossed the line at 8.45 took sixth place.

Other highlights from the men included the men’s relay team placing fourth with a time of 3:25.91. Participating in the 4×400 relay for MU were Ferguson, sophomore Ben Boyd, freshman Eric Kahana and junior Bayaan Oluyadi.

Boyd once again finished first in the 300 meter dash with a time of 35.32, just .02 shy of tying his previously set record the week before.

As for throwers, it comes as no surprise that Jeffrey reigned supreme in Princeton’s arena. Jeffrey won both the shot put with a distance of 17.72 (58 feet 1 inch) meters as well as the weight throw at 17.73 meters (58 feet three inches). He became the only thrower in the whole nation to throw over 58 feet in both the shot put and weight throw so far this season.

Highlights for the women came from none other than  renowned senior, Amanda  Eller. Running the 5,000 meter race for the first time in her career, Eller placed fourth with a time of 17:55. With this time, Eller becomes one out of four women in MU’s vast history to run the indoor 5k in less than 18:00 minutes.

Head coach Joe Compagni admires Eller’s ability to not be confined to one event. “Her main events are really middle distance events so for her to be able to excel in events like that is a great example of her range and toughness.”

Another MU record was set as junior Laura Williams became the third fastest woman in MU’s history in the 300 meter dash as she posted a time of 40.88.

Consisting of freshman Morgan Spann, sophomore Jess Maguire, senior Daniele Toritto, and Williams, the women’s 4×400 relay team finished fifth notching a 4:03.24 time.

The women fared well in the throwing competitions as they took home three second place prizes. MU secured both second and fourth in the shot put as Junior Rachel Aloitta threw 13.99 meters (45 feet) and senior Sandra Jean-Romain threw 13.28 meters (43 feet six inches). MU also placed both second and sixth in the weight throw as junior Tilah Young tossed for a distance of 17.4 meters (57 feet) while Aloitta threw 16 meters (53 feet).

MU’s Track & Field will next compete in the Blue-White Invitational at the MAC on Saturday, January 5 at 10 am.