Successful weekend for STAC Track & Field
SPARTAN STRIDERS SHINE LIKE THE STARS
The Spartan Striders of Saint Thomas Aquinas College traveled to Randall's Island Icahn Stadium to compete in the New Balance NYC Qualifying Challenge. Competing against 81 colleges and universities, as well as a host of unattached Olympic hopefuls, the STAC track team found great success.
In the Men's 4 X 100 Relay, the team of Francis, Cirolia, Valentine & Muniz ran a great race, coming in second place overall, while setting a new school record of 43.30. Freshman Keith Francis led off running a 10.70, while the second leg, freshman John Cirolia, stormed the back straightaway in 10.81. The third and fourth legs were run by sophomores; Mike Valentine and Chris Muniz. Valentine cruised through the curve in 11.02, while anchor Muniz almost caught first place Ithaca College, by running 10.78 down the final straightaway.
Out on the field, sophomore Jeanette Gibson was preparing for her specialty event, the women's discus throw. Jeanette easily qualified for the finals, and then unleashed a final of three throws of 36.36 meters, putting her atop all the collegiate athletes. Jeanette set a new school record of 119' 03", surpassing her previous record of 115.08 by almost 4 feet.
Sophomore Vinny Modafferi won the 800 meter run and, "ran the race of his life" according to Coach Billings. Modafferi completed the first 200 meters in 24 seconds, which kept him close to front of the pack. He then cruised thru the 400 meter point in 55 seconds. As he approached the next 200 meters, he decided to settle in on the backstretch as he ran 1:25 for 600 meters, passing runners along the way. As he prepared for the final 200 meters, one runner stood between him and a victory. Modafferi blasted the curve, catching and passing his lone competitor and charged down the final 100 meters for the win. His time also set a new school record of 1:55.90, eclipsing the old mark by four seconds, which he had set four weeks earlier.
As the final event approached at 10:45 PM, the 4 x 400 relay team of Francis, Cirolia, Valentine & Muniz stepped back on the track to run their final race of the year. Not to be outdone by all the other team accomplishments, these four one lappers ran the second fastest outdoor time by a STAC team of 3:24.25 and won by at least 50 meters over the second place team.
While the men have finished their season, Jeanette Gibson has unfinished business to attend to at the ECAC Championship at Princeton University this coming Friday night as she competes once again in the discus throw.