Track and Field breaks through at 'Berg Invitational
While many athletic events were cancelled on Saturday, April 1 at Muhlenberg because the rain throughout Friday and into Saturday morning left fields unplayable, the Muhlenberg Men’s and Women’s Track and Field teams hosted a meet at Scotty Wood Stadium and had a day full of personal records and qualifications for championship meets. At the end of the day, Muhlenberg placed 29 athletes in 17 different events.
On the Women’s side, one of the top performances was by Michelle Gaykowski ’17 in the discus. Gaykowski’s throw of 140-1 was far enough for the school record. She also placed third at the meet and her finish qualified her for the ECAC Championships. Similarly, Jamie Pacilio ’18 and Jess Voltaggio ’18 both had ECAC qualifying efforts in the 5000m and Javelin respectively. Pacilio’s qualifying time in the 5000m was 17:48.66 which earned her a third place finish. Voltaggio’s javelin throw (129-0) also resulted in a third place finish as well as the ECAC qualifier.
There were more placewinners for the Mules on the track. Victoria Cabellos ’20 placed in seventh running in the 800m with a time of 2:23.90. Emily Davidson ‘18 carried her solid winter season to the spring, placing third in the 1500m with a time of 4:50.44. Finally, the 4x100m team featuring Rashida Haye ’20, Hailey Kleinberg ’19, Gracie Duah ’20, and Shana Joseph ’18 placed seventh running the event in 52.86 seconds.
Two more athletes on the Women’s team placed in their respective field events. The first was Madison Kirchofer ’20. Kirchofer, a two-sport athlete who just accomplished a Centennial Conference Championship on the Women’s Basketball team, now has a medal in the triple jump, springing a distance of 32-01⁄4 to earn a sixth place finish.
Another two-sport athlete, Claudia Theriault ’17, who earlier earned an ECAC championship banner with the Field Hockey team placed eighth in Pole Vault eclipsing a height of 9-61⁄4.
On the Men’s side, one runner and two throwers also qualified for the ECAC championship meet. Anthony Ware ’18 continued his success from the winter into the spring finishing first in the 100m. His speedy time of 11.05 qualifies him a spot at the ECAC meet. Ware also placed, but did not qualify for an ECAC bid in the 200m. His time of 23.10 earned him sixth place at the Saturday meet. Two Mule discus throwers also placed and earned ECAC qualifications. Michael Havkins ‘18 came in first place at the meet with a distance of 157-6, and Erik Berger ’19 placed fourth with a distance of 141-10.
Also on the Men’s track slate, Muhlenberg’s Bell twins each placed in the 800m. Andrew Bell ’17 and Patrick Bell ’17 finished in sixth and eighth, respectively, and finished less than a second apart from each other. Andrew crossed the line at 1:59.61 while Patrick crossed at 2:00.50.
The Bells were also part of the 4x400m team which also featured Jake Waleski ’17, and Indoor All American Mike Bessette ‘19. The quartet finished in fourth with a time of 3:31.72. The other relay team that placed for the Mules was the 4x100 team finishing in third. Waleski, Ware, Christopher Dasaro ’20 and Michael Rainone ’20 finished the race in 43.99 seconds. Indoor All American Corey Mullins ’19 finished 2nd in the 1500m with a time of 4:03.67.
Finally, in the 400m hurdles two Mules, Kem Montina ’20 and Waleski, placed fifth and eighth respectively to round out the track placewinners.
Allentown native Alex Mitton ’18 placed fourth in javelin with a distance of 168-5. Mitton returns for the 2017 spring season after missing all of 2016’s season due to injury.
The home meet is unfortunately the only meet that will be in Allentown this spring, but the Mules certainly enjoyed a little home field advantage being able to rack up the accolades.
The next action for Muhlenberg’s Men’s and Women’s track and field teams is next weekend. On Friday, April 7, the Mules will participate in the Sam Howell Invitational in Princeton, NJ, and the following day, the Mules will be in Bethlehem at the Coach P Invitational. Conference Championships will be Friday, May 5 through Sunday, May 7 at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD.
Photos courtesy of Muhlenberg Athletics