Saving some of their best efforts to end the season, Shippensburg University’s indoor track and field teams shined at this past weekend’s Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) championships at Lehigh University. The men’s team scored 167 points to win their 14th consecutive indoor title, while the women scored 90.5 points to place second behind Slippery Rock.

One of the stars for the men’s team was sophomore Tommy Crum Jr., named the event’s Most Valuable Athlete for the men’s side. Crum was victorious in the mile at 4:18.74. He also took first place in the 3000-meter, clocking in at 8:31.37 and leading home junior teammate Garrett Quinan for a Raider 1-2.

Crum was also part of the winning distance medley relay team, joining sophomore Chase Hensinger, freshman Logan Rodkey and senior Ian Sherlock. They combined to win at 10:14.77. Hensinger won the 800m as well at 1:54.75, with Sherlock finishing second.

The relays were a major success for the team, as the Raiders were also victorious in the 4x400 relay. Freshman Jae Galloway, senior Robbie Hrabosky II, sophomore Jak Kearney and junior Quinton Townsend prevailed with a time of 3:21.39.

Townsend added a solo title to his weekend, taking the men’s 200 at 22.17 seconds. His time placed him ninth in SU history. The final track win for the men’s team went to Quinan, winning the 5000 meters at 15:21.74, with junior teammate Ryan Wolfe close behind in second.

Kearney was the lone field champion for the men’s team, victorious in the long jump at 7.3 meters, fifth best in school history. Kearney’s fifth of his six jumps proved to be the best, winning the event by 0.05 meters.

The women’s efforts were headlined by senior Sasha Lee, who earned a pair of conference titles. She took the gold in the 60-meter hurdles at 8.83 seconds, along with first place in the long jump at 5.80 meters. She also placed second in the women’s triple jump for a three-medal weekend.

Senior Nicola Pugge made Shippensburg history in the pentathlon, setting a new school record with 3370 points on her way to a second-place finish. Pugge placed in the top five in all five events, winning the long jump and setting a new personal best in the high jump.

Other standout performers on the women’s team included junior Madison Malcolm placing third in the 60 hurdles, sixth in SU history. Sophomore Ashley Laukus podiumed in the high jump, her third-place effort of 1.67 meters putting her sixth in Raider history as well.

As of writing, the official list of athletes competing in the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field National Championships has yet to be announced. SU’s teams will spend the next few weeks preparing for the outdoor season, which begins at home with the Keystone Challenge on March 22. The action begins at Seth Grove Stadium at 11 a.m.

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