On Saturday, Jan. 21 Etown bagged a series of top 10 spots in men’s and women’s track and field. The Orange and Maroon Classic in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania became the perfect breeding ground for the best performances from Etown’s finest.
The women were able to claim spots in the top 10 of every event in a stunning collective performance, and the men had great individual victories. Men and women will proceed to Bucknell University next weekend.
Junior Brenna McNamee won the 5000-meter event and nearly broke her personal record with a time of 18:29.77. She was not the only top ten placer in the 5000-meter. McNamee was followed, in order, by senior Brianna Earnshaw, junior Maria Anderson, senior Liz Wedekind and sophomore Colleen Kernan.
In pole vaulting, three Etown athletes placed with some of their best performances. Sophomore Danielle Zahn matched her personal record with a 2.75 meter vault, placed third overall and tied for fifth all-time vault. Fifth and sixth place were taken by first-years Natalie Nye and Paiton Kelly, respectively.
The shot put marked a historic moment for sophomore Leah Gamber as she threw 11.16 meters and moved to fourth place in the history of the program. Also in the top with Gamber were senior Amanda Porter in third and junior Alexa Feduchak.
Senior Kelsey Detweiler was at the top of her game in several events this weekend. In the 60-meter dash, Detweiler placed eighth with an 8.38 second run time. Detweiler also took fifth in the 200-meter and placed with her team in the 4×200-meter relay in sixth place. The relay team included junior Lia Chuk, senior Stephanie Bellott and first-year Kaley Stinson.
The team of first-years Ashleigh Denault, Jordan Sobolesky, Anajulia Blanch and sophomore Haley Prengaman took ninth place in the 4×200-meter relay.
Moving on to men’s track and field, this weekend marked an important moment in individual performances for two seasoned Etown athletes. Senior Andrew Lesko won the 5000-meter, his only race of the day, and made his first individual win of the season. Senior Mike Twist completed the 800-meter, almost surpassing the two-minute mark.
The Etown men took third in the 4×400-meter relay with the team of Twist, junior Mitch Schlegel, first-year JJ Teal and junior Tom Fitzgerald.
Individually, Fitzgerald also ran the mile in 4:28.34 and placed second. Fitzgerald also tied for fourth in the 400-meter dash. Schlegel took fifth place in the 200-meter.
The team of Schlegel, Teal, junior Brad Vasilik and sophomore Nick Winch won first place in their section 4×200-meter relay. They placed fifth overall.
Saturday was an example of the ability of the track and field teams and Etown athletes as a whole. Etown’s presence on the leaderboards and on the track is widespread and impressive.
The men’s and women’s track teams are back in action this weekend as they travel to Bucknell University for the Bison Open and Multi.
