Boston University’s Smith and Chiaravalle; Holy Cross’ Pichay and Moore; Lehigh’s Polignano; Loyola Maryland’s Heinemann earn individual honors
 
CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – Boston University and Holy Cross each captured two of the six M-F Athletic Patriot League Indoor Track and Field Weekly Awards as Boston University’s sophomore teammates Nikolas Smith and Bridget Chiaravalle were selected as the male and female track athletes of the week, respectively. Holy Cross’ sophomore duo, Michael Pichay and Christa Jay Moore earned the male and female field athletes of the week, respectively, when the League office announced weekly honors on Tuesday.
 
Lehigh freshman Vincent Polignano was selected as the M-F Athletic Patriot League Male Rookie of the Week, while Loyola Maryland freshman Grayce Heinemann was named the M-F Athletic Patriot League Female Rookie of the Week.
 
PATRIOT LEAGUE INDOOR TRACK & FIELD ACTION FROM LAST WEEKEND
Six Patriot League programs were in action last weekend as the Holy Cross men traveled to Rhode Island last Thursday and Friday for the Rhode Island Heptathlon, while the Holy Cross women competed at the Rhode Island Pentathlon on Friday, then on Saturday they both competed at Northeastern University’s Howlin’ Husky Invitational, which included Boston University.
 
Last Friday and Saturday, Lehigh hosted the Fast Times Before Finals Invitational, which included Lafayette. Last Saturday Colgate traveled to Utica, N.Y. for the Pioneer Winter Classic, while the Loyola women competed at the New Year Invitational hosted by Princeton.
 
UP NEXT FOR PATRIOT LEAGUE INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD
All Patriot League programs will be idle for the holiday break until Saturday, January 5 when Bucknell hosts the Bucknell Tri-Meet with Lafayette competing. On Sunday, January 6, Navy will host a dual-meet with Princeton. 
  
M-F ATHLETIC PATRIOT LEAGUE MALE TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Nikolas Smith, Boston University, So., Sprinter, Northampton, Mass.
*Competing at the Howlin’ Husky Invitational, Smith won the 500-meter dash with a time of 1:05.16.
*Smith currently has the second-best time for the 500-meter dash in the Patriot League this season.
*He also finished second in the 60-meter dash with an IC4A-qualifying time of 6.91 seconds, currently placing him third overall in the Patriot League.
 
M-F ATHLETIC PATRIOT LEAGUE FEMALE TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Bridget Chiaravalle, Boston University, So., Hurdler/Sprinter, Danbury, Conn.
*At the Howlin’ Husky Invitational, Chiaravalle placed second in the 60-meter hurdles with the top time in the Patriot League this season in 8.88 seconds.
*She also won the 200-meter dash in 25.26, which is currently the fifth-best time in the League.
 
M-F ATHLETIC PATRIOT LEAGUE MALE FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Michael Pichay, Holy Cross, So., Jumper, Hanover, Mass.
*At the Howlin’ Husky Invitational, Pichay broke his own school record and won the triple jump with an IC4A-qualifying leap of 14.50-meters (47’.7”).
* In the triple jump, Pichay currently sits in second in the Patriot League and is ranked 36th in NCAA DI.
*He also finished third in the long jump with a New England Championships qualifying jump of 6.84-meters (22’5.25”), third-best this season in the Patriot League and 71st in NCAA DI.
 
M-F ATHLETIC PATRIOT LEAGUE FEMALE FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Christa Jay Moore, Holy Cross, So., Vaulter, Hubbardston, Mass.
*At the Howlin’ Husky Invitational, Moore won the pole vault with ECAC qualifying vault of 3.75-meters (12’3.5”).
*The win marked her second-straight victory of the season and currently leads the League while being ranked 33rd in NCAA DI.
 
M-F ATHLETIC PATRIOT LEAGUE MALE ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Vincent Polignano, Lehigh, Fr., Jumper, Ottsville, Pa.
*Competing at the Fast Times Before Finals Invitational, Polignano placed third in the high jump with a mark of 1.95-meters (6’4.75”).
*The jump is currently the third-best tally in the Patriot League this season for the freshman.  
 
M-F ATHLETIC PATRIOT LEAGUE FEMALE ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Grayce Heinemann, Loyola Maryland, Fr., Middle-Distance, Shamong, N.J.
*Competing in her first collegiate meet at Princeton’s New Year Invitational, Heinemann finished fourth in the 800-meters with a time of 2:18.41.
*She currently has the sixth-best time in the League and is ranked 36th in NCAA DI for the 800-meter distance.
 
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Molly Smith, Loyola Maryland, Sr., Sprinter, West Newbury, Mass. 
*Competing at Princeton’s New Year Invitational, Smith won the women’s 400-meter dash with a time of 59.08 seconds, which was the 10th best 400-meter time in school indoor history.
*Smith currently has the second-best time this season in the Patriot League in the 400-meter event.
*She also ran the second-fastest 300-meter time in school history with a time of 42.05 seconds in finishing 10th.
 
Brittany Curtin, Lehigh, So., Thrower, Ronkonkoma, N.Y.
*At the Fast Time before Finals Invitational, Curtin won the shot put with a toss of 13.25-meters (43’5.75”).
*She currently ranks fourth in the Patriot League in the shot put while leading the League, and ranks 58th in NCAA DI in the weight throw event.
 
Eva McCool-Guglielmo, Holy Cross, Fr., Wakefield, R.I.
*At the Howlin’ Husky Invitational, McCool-Guglielmo placed third in the triple jump with a New England Championships qualifying leap of 11.22-meters (36’9.75”) and is currently ranked 10th in the League.
 
Past 2018-19 Winners
M-F Athletic Male Track Athlete of the Week
12.4.18 – Tyrell Maddox, Army West Point, Jr., Sprinter
 
M-F Athletic Female Track Athlete of the Week
12.4.18 – Leah Fowlkes, Boston University, Jr., Sprinter
 
M-F Athletic Male Field Athlete of the Week
12.4.18 – Matt Fay, Bucknell, Sr., Vaulter
 
M-F Athletic Female Field Athlete of the Week
12.4.18 – Kaitlyn Salisbury, Bucknell, Sr., Jumper/Sprinter
 
M-F Athletic Male Rookie of the Week
12.4.18 – Justin Young, Army West Point, Fr., Hurdler
 
M-F Athletic Female Rookie of the Week
12.4.18 – Karly Forker, Bucknell, Fr., Middle-Distance
 
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its third decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes that are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.