CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – All nine America East institutions began their indoor track seasons this past weekend. Albany’s Alfonso Scannapieco took part in the Fast Times Before Finals at Lehigh; Binghamton and Stony Brook travelled to Ithaca, N.Y. and took part in Cornell University’s Greg Page Relays; Hartford had a dual meet with Vermont; Maine and New Hampshire went against each other in Orono; UMBC took part in the Bison Opener, and UMass Lowell competed in the Alden Invitational at Brown University. Here are your week one America East weekly indoor track award winners:
Male Track Performer of the Week
Christopher Poggi, New Hampshire, Sophomore, Dover, New Hampshire
- Sophomore Christopher Poggi won the 500-meter run with a time of 1:04.82 at the Fordham Christmas Classic.
- Poggi’s time in the event ranks fifth in the nation, sitting just .95 behind the national leading time set by Pittsburgh’s Brylan Slay.
Male Field Performer of the Week
Alfonso Scannapieco, Albany, Senior, Mohegan Lake, New York
- Senior Alfonso Scannapieco placed second overall in the heptathon at Lehigh’s Fast Times Before Finals with a total score of 4,502.
- Placed first in the 60-meter dash (7.13), long jump (22’-9”), high jump (6’-6”), 60 meter hurdles (8.62) and pole vault (13’-10.5”).
- Scannapieco could not continue on the second day due to back stiffness, but was still able to hold onto his second place finishing first in six events.
Female Track Performer of the Week
Mercedes Jackson, UMBC, Junior, Huntingtown, Maryland
- Junior Mercedes Jackson won the 60-meter dash at the Bison Opener with a time of 7.46. Her mark set a new facility record and currently ranks number one in the nation at that event, sitting one-hundredth of a second faster than the next runner.
Female Field Performer of the Week
Grace Weisbecker, Vermont, Sophomore, Tivoli, New York
- Sophomore Grace Weisbecker set new indoor and facility pole vault records with her pole vault height of 12’ 5.5”. Her height ranks top among America East competitors, beating out the next competitor by four inches.
- Weisbecker’s height broke records set by Mary Krug two season ago and is tied for 15th in the nation.
Male Indoor Track & Field Notes
- Albany held their RACC Classic Intersquad and Alumni Scrimmage; among some of the highlights include Matthew Campbell and Alexander Bowen tied in winning the high jump at 6’-10.75.”
- Was the first time Bowen jumped since he returned from the Panamanian National Team, which had competed in the Central American and Caribbean Games.
- Elsewhere for the Great Danes, senior Alfonso Scannapieco competed in Lehigh’s Fast Times Before Finals, finishing second in the heptathlon. Scannapieco finished with 4,502 points, which was good enough for second despite have to be sidelined on the meet’s second day due to injury. In his final meet as an Albany team member, the senior won six individual events.
- For the Binghamton men, the top finisher was junior Temi Balulaiye who placed fourth in the 500 at (1:06.04), qualifying in the IC4A standard.
- Sophomore Alex Paterson recorded a first place finish for the Hartford Hawks against Vermont. Paterson won the 300 meter-dash, crossing the finish line at 37.87.
- For the Maine men, the highlights include freshman Kelby Mace won the long jump at 21’-4.25,” Joe Viola took first in the 400 meter dash coming in with a time of 50.57, and Matthew York on the heptathlon with a final mark of 4537 points.
- UMBC began their season at the Bison Opener. Hassan Omar won the mile run with a time of 4:17.95, and Rhys Burgett took home the number one spot in the 3000 meter at 8:55.51. Yoa Adantor set a new school record in the shot put, registering the best throw of 16.88.
- UMass had three first place finishes at the Alden Invitational; Junior Tunde Ogunleye won the 300 meter dash in 34.92; Oluwatoni Onikeku took first in the high jump, clearing the bar set at 6’ 9”; and freshmen Vladimir Popusoi tied first first in the pole vault, reaching a height of 14’ 5.25.”
- · New Hampshire had ten first place finishes in their dual meet against Maine. Some include sophomore Michael Shanahan, who set a indoor record with a weight throw of 61’-10.25.” Performer of the Week Christopher Poggi registered the fifth fasted time in the country in the 500 meter run at 1:04.82, and his brother Joseph Poggi ran the 800 meter event in 1:59.76, good enough for a first place finish.
- At the Fordham Christmas Classic, three first place finishers led Stony Brook. Lamar Hayes tied for first in the 60-meter dash at 6.9 seconds and won the long jump outright, leaping 6.92 meters. Chris Hand was victorious in the weight throw, at 16.30 meters.
- The Catamounts were led by multiple figures in their meet against Hartford. Ed Simon claimed the 55-meter hurdles with ease at a time of 8 seconds flat, Oliver Scofield was the fastest in the mile (4:32.82), and on the field, Colby Cunningham, Chris Voda, and Martin Kallur all were winners.
Female Indoor Track & Field Notes
- In their annual RACC Classic Intersquad, the highlights for the Danes includes Florida State transfer Briana Cherry-Bronson setting a new facility in the women’s weight throw with a victorious throw of 57’-11.75.” In addition, Buffalo transfer Kaytlin Mack won the women’s pole vault in the facility record of 11’-6.”
- Binghamton had three individual winners at the Cornell Indoor Relays; Senior Christy DiMichelle won the pole vault (12’-1”), junior Tori Shaffer topped all competitors in the high jump (5’7”), and senior Danielle Olusoga took first place in the Pentathlon with 3,246 points.
- Also for the Bearcats, sophomore Keishorra Armstrong placed second in the women’s 60 dash, but broke her own school record finishing that race at 7.48.
- Freshman Nicole Demars recorded a first place mark in the mile run against Vermont, leading the pack at a 5:18.71 pace.
- For Maine, Robyn McFetters started her junior season on a fantastic note, netting a new women’s indoor track weigth throwing record at 52’-2.75.” Other highlights for the Black Bears include Jaclyn Masters won two events; the pole vault at a height of 11’-4.75” and the 200 meter dash with a time of 26.34.
- Mercedes Jackson led UMBC at the Bison Opener, winning the 60 meter dash with a national best time of 7.46.
- The River Hawks efforts at the Alden Invitational at Brown University are highlighted by freshman Celesta Pipia, who finished third overall in the shot put with a throw if 43’-7.” In additional, senior Taelous Murphy finished third in the 60 meters dash, crossing the finish line with a time of 7.86.
- New Hampshire defeated Maine in their dual meet, due in large part to some key contributors. Some include Sophomore Laura Rose Donegan finished first in the 1000 meter run, setting a new facility record at 2:59.85. Senior Anne Twombly placed first in the 800 meter run at 2:24.03, and Junior Cassandra Kruse paced the competition in the mile run, finishing with a time of 5:16.60.
- Kaylyn Gordon, Moriah Blackman, and Courtney Warden won events at the Fordham Christmas Classic for Stony Brook. Gordon placed first in the 60-meters dash at 7.7 seconds; Warden won the 60-meters hurdle at 9.0, and Blackman took home the top spot in the 200-meters at 26.8.
- Vermont came out victorious in their dual meet against Hartford. The spotlight shines on Grace Weisbecker, who broke the indoor school and facility record in the pole vault, clearing a height of 3.8 meters. In addition, other winners included sophomore Sydney Kurtic in the shot put (11.32) and weight throw (12.14), and freshman Pearl Abiti who won the long jump (5.43 meters) and 300-meter (43.29) as a freshman.
Weekly Awards
Dec. 9
Male Track Performer of the Week: Christopher Poggi, New Hampshire
Male Field Performer of the Week: Alfonso Scannapieco, Albany
Female Track Performer of the Week: Mercedes Jackson, UMBC
Female Field Performer of the Week: Grace Weisbecker, Vermont