CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – All nine America East schools were in action this past week. Albany part in the Armory Track Invitational; Binghamton had the majority of their their team at the Cornell/Robert Kane Invitational; Hartford, UMass Lowell and Stony Brook travelled north to Boston, Massachusetts for the John Thomas Terrier Classic; New Hampshire hosted Maine and Vermont in a quad meet; and UMBC ran in the Penn State National Open and Patriots Games.
Male Track Performer of the Week
Drew Piazza, New Hampshire, Sophomore, Danvers, Massachusetts
- Sophomore Drew Piazza travelled to Boston for the John Thomas Terrier along a select other few of the UNH Wildcats team.
- Piazza placed second out of 139 runners in the 800-meter run with a time of 1:48.53. That time ranks top among all America East runners this season, currently places as the 12th fastest in the nation.
Male Field Performer of the Week
Yao Adantor, UMBC, Senior, Laurel, Maryland
- Yao Adantor competed at the Penn State Open and set another school record in the shot put. Adantor’s toss landed at 17.16 meters, breaking both UMBC’s and his own personal best.
- Adantor placed fourth overall in the event, but his throw is top in the America East this year.
Female Track Performer of the Week
Christina Melian, Stony Brook, Junior, Staten Island, New York
- Christina Melian won the 5,000 meter race on the opening day of the John Thomas Terrier Classic held by Boston University. The junior ran the distance in 16:00.14, a time that currently shatters all others in the America East and ranks seventh in the nation.
Female Field Performer of the Week
Briana Cherry-Bronson, Albany, Graduate, Naples, Florida
- Albany competed at the Armory Indoor Track Invitational, and Briana Cherry-Bronson Placed second in the weight throw with a toss of 65' 4.25.” This throw breaks her own school record of 64'-1.75" set last week at Cornell's Upstate Challenge and sets a new benchmark in the America East.
- In addition, Cherry-Bronson’s throw currently sits within the top thirty nationally.
Male Indoor Track & Field Notes
- The University at Albany took part in the Armory Track Invitational in New York City and placed 13th out of 38 scoring teams. John DeLallo was the lone Great Dane to win an event over the two-day event, taking the 1,000-meter in 2:25.16. In the field, the Albany Great Danes were held high by Nathan Hiett who placed ninth in the pole vault, registering a season best heigh of 15’ 11.75.”
- Binghamton University had runners spread across multiple venues. Jesse Garn took ninth overall in the mile run at the New York City Armory Invitational with a time of 4:05.84. Other runners were sent to the Penn State National Open; Collin Frost and Ethan Hausamann were the fourth and fifth place finishers in the 3,000-meter race. The majority of the Bearcats ran at the Cornell/Robert Kane Invitational, and Binghamton’s lone first place finish came in the 500-meter race by way of Josh Miller (1:15.15).
- Hartford headed north to Boston, Massachusetts for the Boston University Invite. Senior Christopher Helminksi improved on his mile rule time, setting a new personal best with a 4:25.51 finish. In the 60-meter dash, Alex Paterson set a new personal best (7.38) and freshman Dominic DiCarlo was the top finisher for the hawks (7.36).
- Maine travelled to Durham, New Hampshire to take on the Bowdoin, and fellow conference foes New Hampshire and Vermont; Maine finished third with 135 points. Mozai Nelson won the 55-meter dash in 6.53, and finished second in the 200-meter dash (23.39). Maine also took two of the top three spots in the high jump; Tyler Martin (6’ 2.75”) registered nine points and Connor (6’ 2.75”) came out with six. The triple jump was owned by the Black Bears; Julian Hubbard (45’ 09.75”) and Connor Harris (44” 8.25’) took the top two spots.
- Yao Adantor, who landed a school record, led UMBC at the Penn State Open with a career best throw of 17.16 meters in the shot put. On the track, Nick Johnson took fifth in the 1000-meter with a time of 2:29.88. At George Mason, the Patriots Games, Darius Oxley placed fourth in the 5,000-meter led the men, and Charles Bolinger took fifth in the 1,000 meter.
- UMass Lowell didn’t travel far, taking part in the John Thomas Terrier at the Boston University Track and Tennis Center. Senior Robert Allen placed 22nd out of a field of 108 competitors in the 3,000 meter race (8:13.79); Allen was able to do so even battling flu-like symptoms. River Hawks also shined in the 1,000-meter; senior Cameron Kelley (2:27.92), and freshman Daniel Schmith (2:20.00) both paced good marks among all America East runners.
- New Hampshire came in first out of four competing schools on their home campus. Junior Dylan Pelletier took spot in the 200-meter dash with a time of 23.18, and Ross Hardy earned first in the 400-meter at 52.61. In the 800 meter, senior Steven Souza took the top spot with a pace of 1:59.45. New Hampshire also won both relays, the 4x400 and 4x800.
- In addition to their home meet, UNH also sent runners to the John Terrier Classic. Sophomore Drew Piazza placed second in the 800-meter, running the race in 1:48.53, a new America East best. Kevin Greene placed ninth in the mile run (4:04.73), competing against 196 other runners.
- The Seawolves ran at the John Thomas Terrier Classic in Boston, Massachusetts. Some standouts included Bradley Amazan, who placed 15th in the 1,000-eter (2:28.39), and 34th place finisher in the 3,000 meter run, Michael Watts.
- Against Maine, New Hampshire and Bowdoin, Vermont was able to clock a second place among the competing teams. Dan DeLuna won the 500-meter race in 1:07.88, and Fletcher Hazlehurst won the 3,000-meter in 8:46.44. Other notable track finishes come from Dan Moroney who took second in the mile (4:24.66), and Romario Bailer and Alex Charles who took the runner-up spots in their respective events of the 55-meter dash (6.59) and 55-mter hurdles (8.01). On the field Ed Simon won the pole vault with a new personal best of 4.8 meters.
Female Indoor Track & Field Notes
- The University at Albany took part in the Armory Track Invitational in New York City and placed 15th out of 37 scoring teams. The Great Danes were led by Grace Claxton, who broke her own school record placing seventh in the 400-meter (54.85). In addition, Michelle Anthony ran a personal best mark of 8.38 to qualify for finals in fifth place. The time set a new school record, which had been set in 2003 by Teresa Covert.
- The Binghamton Bearcats were split into two squads, some taking part in the Penn State National Open, and others at the Cornell Robert Kane Invitational. At Penn State, Alexis Hatcher broke her own school record in the 1,000 meter, placing sixth in her heat with a time of 2:52.69. At the Cornell Robert Kane Invitational, Alexis Murray won the triple jump (39’ 11.5”), and Brooke Bonney took home the top in the weight throw (47’ 8”).
- Hartford travelled to Boston, Massachusetts and set many personal bests. Senior Sam Crisafull set a new record in the 1,000 meter race (2:52.08), breaking her own personal mark. Sophomore Lauren Bossi set another personal best in the 500-meter dash (1:20.29).
- Maine competed against three schools in Durham, New Hampshire, fellow conference rivals New Hampshire and Vermont, plus Bowdoin. Maine managed best in the field events, where Ashley Donohoe won the shot put (40’ 11.75”) and Emily Boardman took the weight throw (50’ 11.50”). In the track events, Katelyn Guilmette placed second in the 55-meter dash (7.39), and Teal Jackson and Jaclyn Masters placed second and third respectively in the 200-meter dash in 26.12 and 26.54.
- At the Penn State Open, Essence Fredericks won the 500-meter in 1:15.16. Mercedes Jackson finished her weekend with a season best time in the 200-meter, placing fifth at 24.19. At the Patriot Games, Marie Yuille placed second in the 500-meter (1:19.30), and Chelsea Vane took third in the 5K (18:28.51).
- Senior Taelour Murphy set a new school record in the 400-meter dash, placing fifth among 132 competitors at the John Thomas Terrier Invitational in Boston, Massachusetts. Murphy’s new record time was 54.89 seconds. Freshman Kathryn Loughnane set a new personal best pace (3:1.73) in the 1,000 meters.
- New Hampshire hosted four teams, at home in Durham, New Hampshire. The Wildcats won 10 events and won the overall event against Bowdoin, and fellow conference competitors Maine and Vermont. Lauren Perrodin won the 55-meter dash in 7.10, and she also took the 200-meter (26.04). Another winner was Amanda Symanski, who took part in the 800-meter (2:19.27). In the field events, Lexie Arbour took first in the triple jump (10.62 meters).
- The Wildcats also sent runners to Boston for the John Terrier Classic. Anne Twombly placed fifth in the mile, recording a time of 4:04.60. The other five runners who made the trip set personal bests.
- Stony Brook’s top female performers at the John Thomas Terrier Classic came via way of junior Christina Melian and Jane Clark. Melian won the 5,000-meter race in 16:00.14, and Clark took seventh in the 1,000 meter with a time of 2:52.06. On the field, Kaylyn Gordon placed second in the triple jump (11.88 meters), and third in the long jump (5.65 meters).
- Vermont competed against Maine, New Hampshire and Bowdoin in Durham, New Hampshire. The Catamounts swept the top three spots in the 1,000-meter run, led by Hilary Rawding (2:55.36). Sydney Durand was the victor in the one-mile run, posting a time of 5:09.33. A final track highlight comes from Dana Gaetani, who took the 400-meter dash with a time of 59.78. In the field, Grace Weisbecker registered a new season-best in the pole vaulting, climbing to a height of 3.66 meters, good enough for second in the event.
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
Dec. 16
Male Track Performer of the Week: Marcus Duncan, UMass Lowell
Male Field Performer of the Week: Michael Shanahan, New Hampshire
Female Track Performer of the Week: Anne Twombly, New Hampshire
Female Field Performer of the Week: Jessica Salley, New Hampshire
Jan. 13
Male Track Performer of the Week: Robert Allen, UMass Lowell
Male Field Performer of the Week: Joe Miceli, Binghamton
Female Track Performer of the Week: Mercedes Jackson, UMBC
Co-Female Field Performer of the Week: Kerstin, Darsney, UMass Lowell
Co-Female Field Performer of the Week: Alexis Murray, Binghamton
Jan. 20
Male Track Performer of the Week: Kevin Greene, New Hampshire
Male Field Performer of the Week: Martin Kallur, Vermont
Female Track Performer of the Week: Grace Claxton, Albany
Female Field Performer of the Week: Briana Cherry-Bronson, Albany
Jan. 27
Male Track Performer of the Week: Jason Tomlinson, Albany
Co-Male Field Performer of the Week: Matthew Campbell, Albany
Co-Male Field Performer of the Week: Alexander Bowen Jr., Albany
Female Track Performer of the Week: Grace Claxton, Albany
Female Field Performer of the Week: Christy DiMichele, Binghamton
Feb. 3
Male Track Performer of the Week: Drew Piazza, New Hampshire
Female Track Performer of the Week: Christina Melian, Stony Brook
Male Field Performer of the Week: Yao Adantor, UMBC
Female Field Performer of the Week: Briana Cherry-Bronson, Albany