The track and field team recently competed in their final regular season NEC meet this past Wednesday as they hosted Moonlight at the MAC.
Head Coach Joe Compagni said the meet is not a win or loss situation per say, but is actually a chance for many to extend their indoor season.
“Wednesday night was a final chance to compete indoors and qualify for some people,” Compagni said. “It was low key. We didn’t have a team score and everybody just had part of their team there.”
Along with MU, nine other schools competed on Wednesday night, three of which were Division II colleges.
Sophomore Kate Frye broke a MAC record at the meet as she finished with a time of 58.18 in the women’s 400 meter dash. Senior distance runner Kelsey Maher broke a MAC record as well in the women’s 5000 meter run with a time of 18:33.03. Senior Sean Hartnett also broke a MAC record in the men’s one mile as he completed the race at 4:17.58.
Sophomore pole vaulter Lauren McDonald set a MAC record on Wednesday with a height of 3.5 meters (11 feet five inches) and set a University record last weekend at the NYU Fastrack meet with a height of 3.66 meters (12 feet).
Senior distance runner Amanda Eller surpassed a decade old record while in New York as she finished the 1000 meter race at 2:52.55.
Commenting on the success of Eller’s season, Compagni attributes her results to her stern work ethic. “I think she just has done a great job in believing in the work she is doing and she is working really hard. She competes very tough with every opportunity she’s had.”
For the men’s side, senior distance runner Ford Palmer set a school record in the mile as he finished with a time of 4:00.46 at the Fastrack meet. Junior field athlete Errol Jeffrey took home first in the shot put and weight throw with distances of 17.5 meters (57 feet five inches) and 18.06 (59 feet and three inches) respectively.
After these two meets, the Northeast Conference released their lists of what athletes were awarded honors for their seasons. Receiving first team honors from the men’s side were Palmer, Jeffrey, sophomore Ben Boyd, and junior Jalen Walker.
Eller and junior Mariah Toussaint both were given first team honors for the women’s side.
Compagni was also awarded by the NEC as he received Coach of the Year. Compagni and his coaching staff have been given this honor more than any other coaching staff in NEC history.
Moonlight at the MAC and the NYU Fastrack meet were the last opportunities the team had to prepare for this weekend’s IC4A and ECAC Championships.
When asked if the team would be prepared for the Championships, Compagni said, “They understand as we go to Boston next week, the stakes are much higher and the meet will be much more intense.”
Qualifiers of the IC4A are: Palmer, Jeffrey, Boyd, freshmen Eric Kahana, junior Bayaan Oluyadi, senior Chris Rutherford, freshman Andrew Langille, sophomore Alex Leight, senior Sean Hartnett, freshman Geordan Ferguson, junior Ed Kramer, sophomore Joseph Marini, senior Shane Carle, sophomore Taylor Bernstein, and freshman Tevin Kirby-Stewart.
Palmer is ranked ninth out of 154 in the one mile and Jeffrey is ranked eigth out of 53 for shot put. The IC4A is over a century old, making it the longest running meet in America.
Qualifiers of the ECAC are: Eller, Toussaint, Frye, senior Rachel Watkins, senior Emily MacEwen, senior Alison Day, sophomore Lauren McDonald, junior Rachel Aliotta, senior Sandra Jean-Romain, junior Tilah Young, and senior Symmone Fisher.
Compagni believes the team is looking forward to the meet because of its prestigious honor if one happens to win an event.
“We’re excited. It’s a meet that’s against all the best schools of the East. It’s our chance to line-up with not just the NEC but some of the best teams in the Big East, the Patriot League, and the Ivy League to see where we stand for that.”
The meet will be held this weekend at Boston University.
