The Shippensburg University men’s and women’s track-and-field teams were once again split this weekend with a chunk of the teams’ athletes at Bucknell University on Friday for the Bucknell Tune-Up meet.
The Raiders’ throw squad represented the track-and-field program well with more than half of the qualifying performances.
These performances included the women’s weight throw with sophomore Ashley Kerr throwing 15.83 meters, freshman Madisen Kling throwing 13.22 meters as well as freshman Kate Matrisciano throwing 13.21 meters.
Kerr placed fifth in the event; all three athletes had Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC)-qualifying marks. In the men’s weight throw, junior Cam Strohe threw 16.60 meters and senior Tyler Hewitt threw 14.33 meters.
The Raiders did well in the shot-put circle as well, with Matrisciano throwing 12.99 meters and Kerr throwing 12.35 meters. Matrisciano’s mark was good enough to take third in the event, while Kerr claimed eighth — both distances were PSAC qualifiers.
For the men’s squad, freshman Yobani Moreno Estrada threw 14.44 meters and fellow freshman Brooks Bear was just behind with a top mark of 13.64 meters in the shot — both earned PSAC times.
Senior Conner Oldt ran 8.56 in trials and 8.63 in the finals of the 60-meter hurdles for another conference qualifier. Junior Adam Warehime excelled in the triple jump, reaching a PSAC mark of 12.91 meters to place third in the event. He also took fourth in the long jump with a top mark of 6.39 meters.
Senior Kali Dawson tied for fifth in the high jump for the women, claiming a top mark of 1.55 meters — another PSAC qualifier.
Junior Jordan Higgins prepared for the outdoor 400-meter hurdles, completing the 500 with a time of 1:27.23. Junior Cirsten Kelly is taking steps in the right direction, running a 61.83 in the 400-meter race.
Kelly also joined Higgins, redshirt-freshman Malayna Rowe and freshman Regan Craig in the 4x4 to claim fourth in 4:20.28.
Sophomore Austin Howell and freshmen Josh Booth and Matt Lenahan had impressive days on the track, with all three earning two qualifying times apiece in both the 200 and 400 meters.
Howell took third in the 400 (50.95 seconds) and fourth in the 200 (22.95 seconds); Booth claimed fourth in the 400 (51.18 seconds) and third in the 200 (22.94); and Lenahan finished eighth in the 200 (23.14 seconds) and fifth in the 400 (51.37 seconds).
The SU track-and-field team got a handful of extra qualifying times, and will have only one more opportunity next weekend at the Kutztown Last Chance meet before the conference championships.
The championships will kick off on Feb. 23 from Edinboro University.
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