May 1, 2009

2009 Patriot League Outdoor Track and Field Championships page

West Point, N.Y. - The Army men and Bucknell women led the field Friday after the first day of the 2009 Patriot League Championships, held at Army's Shea Stadium in West Point, N.Y.

Army junior Kim Mallard was crowned the first individual champion of the day after winning the hammer throw with a toss of 52.99m (173' 10"). Lehigh sophomore Emily Settle was the event runner up with a throw of 51.29m (168' 3"), while Bucknell junior Chelsey Musante earned third place with a 50.57m (165' 11") toss.

On the men's side, junior Mark Van Orden won his second-straight Patriot League individual hammer throw championship with a toss of 61.03m (200' 3"). Army freshman Trent Kraychir was the event's runner up at 59.46m (195' 1"). Army junior Adam Schwartz was the third place finisher at 57.83m (189' 9"), qualifying him for NCAA Regionals.

The Leopards swept the javelin events, with Lafayette junior Seamas McGuire winning the men's javelin event at 64.12m (210' 4"), making him the first Leopard to win the event in Patriot League Championship history. McGuire, whose throw surpassed the NCAA Regional qualifying mark, was followed by Navy freshman Christopher Ricks at 61.34m (201' 3") and Navy sophomore Devan Clark at 61.08m (200' 5").

Lafayette junior Allison Tether was the women's javelin champion with a throw of 38.96m (127' 10"). Bucknell sophomore Laura Rycek took second at 38.95m (127' 9"), while Holy Cross junior Chantal Couture finished in third at 38.88m (127' 7").

Sophomore Drew Fitzgerald of Bucknell won the men's pole vault with an IC4A-qualifying mark of 4.80m (15' 9"). Lehigh junior Khalil Uqdah picked up second place for the Mountain Hawks with a vault of 4.50m (14' 9"), followed by Bucknell junior Ryan White at 4.50m (14' 9").

Bucknell sophomore Rebecca Frey also picked up the women's pole vault title for the Bison. Frey had a vault of 3.60m (11' 9 ¾"), besting Holy Cross senior Lesley Bautista (3.45m/11' 3 ¾") by six inches to win the championship. Junior Jessica Schlaegel of Navy (3.45m/11' 3 ¾") finished third.

The 2009 women's long jump champion was Jessica Buzzell of Lafayette. The senior earned her second-straight individual championship with a leap of 5.43m (17' 9 ¾"). Freshman Charrell Mack of Lehigh was the event runner up at 5.29m (17' 4 ¼"), followed by senior Lesley Bautista of Holy Cross at 5.28m (17' 4").

Lafayette junior Kyle Clayton won the men's long jump with a leap of 7.13m (23' 4 ¾"). Clayton is the first Leopard to be crowned the men's long jump individual champion at the title meet since Everald Facey won in 1997. Army freshman Michael Hutchins (7.01m/23' 0") and junior Kyle Anthony of Bucknell (6.84m/22' 5 ¼") rounded out the top three.

Bucknell swept the meet's first relay, the 4x800m. On the men's side, the Bison team of junior Kevin McGoldrick, sophomores Chris Boyd and Clay Smith and junior Kyle Ramer picked up the relay win with an IC4A-qualifying time of 7:34.95. American's team of sophomores Conor Sullivan, Jeff Brannigan, senior Carlos Jamieson and junior Dan King finished second at 7:36.24, also qualifying for IC4As.

For the women, Bucknell's team of sophomore Amanda Steinke, freshmen Stephanie Fulmer and Megan Hathaway and senior Jenny Dalzell earned the first-place finish with an ECAC-qualifying time of 8:54.40. Lehigh's squad of freshman Alexandra Neville and seniors Shannon Alejandro, Jennifer Thernkorn and Sarah Serwo finished second at 8:56.28, also surpassing the ECAC standard for the event.

Army senior Jonathan Anderson led the majority of the way for the men's 10,000m run, but Holy Cross senior Brad Mish closed quickly on Anderson the last 800m of the race. But Anderson prevailed, winning the event for the second straight year with a time of 30:43.21. Mish took second place at 30:43.61, and American sophomore Colin Eustis finished third at 30:56.40. The top three finishers, as well as Holy Cross freshman Cory Loftis (30:56.88) and sophomores Ed Sheridan of Colgate (31:02.39) and Steve Dorsey of Bucknell (31:04.80), all qualified for IC4As as well.

On the women's side, Colgate sophomore Julie Tarallo became the first Raider to win the 10,000m run at the Patriot League Championships since 2004 with her winning time of 36:55.25. Juniors Lexi Gass of Navy (37:18.52) and Rachel Forcino of American (37:23.15) rounded out the top three. All three ladies, as well as Army senior Meg Curran (37:25.61) qualified for ECACs with their times.

For the multi-events, Lehigh senior E.J. Schuck led the men's decathlon after Day 1 with 3,588 points. Bucknell junior Ryan White finished the day in second place with 3,451 points, followed by freshman teammate Andrew Powell at 3,450 points.

In the women's decathlon, Navy freshman Arian Davis led after the first day's events with 2,628 points. Lehigh junior Catherine Bigelow earned 2,560 points on the day, followed by Army sophomore Tonya Stallard with 2,559 points.

Both the men's heptathlon and women's decathlon will conclude on Saturday.

For results from Day One, as well as final results and team scores at the conclusion of Saturday's events, please visit www.PatriotLeague.com or the Outdoor Track and Field Championships page that is accessible here.

Day 1 Individual Champions

Women's Hammer: Kim Mallard, Army 52.99m

Men's Hammer: Mark Van Orden, Navy 61.03m

Men's Javelin: Seamas McGuire, Lafayette 64.12m (210' 4")

Women's Javelin: Allison Tether, Lafayette 38.96m (127' 10")

Men's Pole Vault: Drew Fitzgerald, Bucknell 4.80m (15' 9")

Women's Pole Vault: Rebecca Frey, Bucknell 3.60m (11' 9 ¾")

Women's Long Jump: Jessica Buzzell, Lafayette 5.43m (17' 9 ¾")

Men's Long Jump: Kyle Clayton, Lafayette 7.13m (23' 4 ¾")

Men's 4x800m Relay: Bucknell (McGoldrick, Boyd, Smith, Ramer), 7:34.95

Women's 4x800m Relay: Bucknell (Steinke, Fulmer, Dalzell, Hathaway), 8:54.40

Men's 10,000m: Jonathan Anderson, Army 30:43.21

Women's 10,000m: Julie Tarallo, Colgate 36:55.25

Team Scores After Day One

Men

1. Army, 38 points

2. Navy, 36

3. Bucknell, 34

4. Lafayette, 26

5. Holy Cross, 16

5. Lehigh, 16

7. American, 14

8. Colgate, 6

Women

1. Bucknell, 40.50 points

2. Lafayette, 28

3. Holy Cross, 27

4. Army, 26

5. Lehigh, 24.50

6. Navy, 21

7. Colgate, 12

8. American, 6