CTC INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIP @ YALE 2/9-10/08
The Spartan Striders of Saint Thomas Aquinas College joined 18 other teams to compete in the 2008 CTC Indoor Track & Field Championship at the Coxe Cage at Yale University. Inspite of flu like systems which hurt the performance of some while keeping others home, the Mighty Spartans gathered around each other and finished 9th overall on the men's side, while the women who competed in only 3 events finished 18th.
On Saturday night four individuals competed in three events. Freshman, Dan Nilsen kicked off the evening by walking the mile in 10:53.59, good enough for 5th place and garnering the first 4 points for the men's squad. Dan also set a school record for his event, which was the first time any STAC athlete had competed in a championship race in the walking division!
Following up on Dan's performance Junior Elmer Eckert and Sophomore Aidan Hearn ran in the 5000 meter run. Again inspite of coming off of a week of sickness, Elmer finished a remarkable 16:17 good enough for 10th place overall. Striding in a few places behind Elmer was Aidan who came home in 16:42. Capping off the evening, sophomore Jeanette Gibson putt the shot 33' 10.75'', inspite of fouling twice. Jeanette finished 6th overall and would have placed 1st in our own conference, had we had a conference meet!
On Sunday the Spartans returned with a compliment of 10 men and 2 women.The men scored in 6 events while the women had to settle for just competing. Four school records were set. Three by the relay teams and one by our new 800 meter specialist, Kwame Opoku. Kwame broke Vinny Modafferi's record, which was set just a couple of weeks ago. A battle for the "king" of the mid-distance seems to be shaping up for these two speedsters.
In the 4 X 200 & 4 X 400 relays, John Cirolia, Keith Francis, Mike Valentine, and anchor Chris Muniz teamed up to set records in both events. As these four continue to round into racing shape, who knows how far down they will take these records!
In the 4 X 800 Relay, Christian Mendez started the ball rolling by leading off in 2:04, Kwame Opoku picked up where he left off in the open 800 by running a sizzling 1:59, Drew Gangemi and Elmer Eckert blasted the record away by running 2:09 & 2:10 respectively. For Elmer it was not a bad day... 3 events in less than 24 hours!
Sophomore Chris Muniz & Freshman Keith Francis also ran a triple Chris ran in the 200 dash inspite of dealing with flu like symptoms & Keith placed in the 55 dash. Both ran a leg in the 4 x 200 & 4 X 400. (actually Keith ran in 4 races, 55 prelims & finals, as well as 2 relays)
Lisa Urnaitis was not to be outdone by the men as she ran a personal best in the 800 meter solidifying herself as the new girl on the block in the mid-distance races.
All in all, it was a satisfying day for the Spartan Striders. Yet as they continue their trek through the indoor season, their sights are continually set on new challenges, new personal records and new school records, and maybe even a coveted invite to the prestige's IC4A Championship on March 9-10 in Boston, MA. And why not... for if the NY Giants can slay the mighty Patriots, why can't the mighty Spartans make it to the big dance?
OVERALL RESULTS
WOMEN'S EVENTS
SHOT PUT - JEANETTE GIBSON @ 33' 10.75'' - 6th place
800 METER RUN - LISA URNAITIS @ 2.46.39 (PB) - 13th place
1000 METER RUN - SADE MOSHER @ 3:54.12 - 13th place
MEN'S EVENTS
55 METER DASH - KEITH FRANCIS @ 6.88 - 5th place
200 METER DASH - CHRIS MUNIZ @ 23.18 - 9th place
ANDERSON MUNRO @ 25.47 - 22nd place
1 MILE RUN - ELMER ECKERT @ 4:44.29 - 13th place
800 METER RUN - KWAME OPOKU @ 1:57.49 - 3rd place
1000 METER RUN - VINNY MODAFFERI @ 2:47.89 - 13th place
1 MILE WALK - DAN NILSEN @ 10:53.59 - 5th place
5000 METER RUN - ELMER ECKERT @ 16:17.48 - 10th place
AIDAN HEARN @ 16:42.01 - 13th place
4 X 200 RELAY - JOHN CIROLIA, KEITH FRANCIS,
1:32.75 - 4th place MIKE VALENTINE, CHRIS MUNIZ
4 X 400 RELAY - JOHN CIROLIA, KEITH FRANCIS,
3:27.54 - 2nd place MIKE VALENTINE, CHRIS MUNIZ
4 X 800 RELAY - CHRISTIAN MENDEZ, KWAME OPOKU
8:25.00 - 4th place DREW GANGEMI, ELMER ECKERT
NEW SCHOOL RECORDS -Underlined