SRU men’s indoor track landed 11 event wins this past weekend when the team traveled to Edinboro, PA for the Edinboro Last Chance Meet, which was the last meet before the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championships this weekend back in Edinboro.
The Rock hit 18 PSAC qualifying marks, along with three NCAA qualifying marks, while also hitting 11 personal bests this past weekend. Graduate student David Reinhardt continued to improve on his season best in the weight throw for the fifth consecutive meet, when he threw 18.10 meters, taking first place in the event and notching another NCAA mark.
“It’s pretty amazing what he’s (Reinhardt) been able to do,” head coach John Papa said. “He gets better every week, only problem is we’re running out of weeks.”
This weekend is the PSAC Championships, followed by the NCAA Nationals on March 10. Papa says he feels the group is coming together at the perfect time of the season.
“At my estimation, most of our team is at it’s best right now,” Papa said. “I think we’re ready to compete.”
The two other NCAA qualifying marks came from juniors Jordan Pacheco and Caleb Smithco. Pacheco placed first in the pole vault with a height of 4.90 meters, while Smithco placed first in the triple jump with a distance of 14.74 meters.
In the 60-meter dash, three Rock athletes took top five finishes, including senior Brandon Vanderbrook, who took first place with a time of 6.97. Sophomore Jeff Bailey took third place with a time of 7.11, and freshman Liam Okal took fourth place with a time of 7.22. All three athletes broke their season bests, while also hitting the PSAC mark.
Sophomore Collin Darby took first place in the 200-meter dash with a time of 22.32, with Vanderbrook behind him in third place with a time of 22.72. Okal also joined the race placing fourth, notching a time of 22.82, his season best. Darby, Vanderbrook, and Okal all broke the PSAC mark in the event. Junior James Chandler placed first in the 400-meter dash, with a time of 50.42, notching his season best and a PSAC mark as well.
“He (Chandler) looked great out there the other day,” Papa said. “We’re happy to have him back because he was hurt all outdoor last year.”
In the mile, senior Tyler Palenchak took first place with a time of 4:26.31, hitting the PSAC mark. Freshman Ian Nieves took first place in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.35 with senior Savon Salter right behind him in second place with a time of 8.72, both hitting the PSAC mark.
The high jump event brought three top five finishes as well as sophomore Lance Thornton took first place with a jump of 1.95 meters. Senior Seth Armstrong tied Thornton and took second, while freshman Josiah Davis landed fifth with a jump of 1.85 meters. Senior JJ Ollio took first place in shot put with a toss of 15.30 meters. All four hit the PSAC mark in their event.
This coming weekend The Rock will travel back to Edinboro for the PSAC Championships on Saturday and Sunday.
