Men's Track Competes at West Chester in Final Tuneup for CACs
WEST CHESTER, Pa.--In a final tuneup for the approaching Capital Athletic Conference track & field championships, the Hood College men's track & field team travelled to West Chester, Pa., to take part in the WCU Collegiate Invitational.
No team scores were kept in the two-day, 12-team meet and steady rain on Friday diminished the turnout as several teams opted not to compete.
Top finish on the day belonged to Chris DiGangi who won the pole vault competition with a jump of 13' 1 1/2". In addition, the Blazers set one school record and 13 personal bests.
The school record was produced by Naseem Zietoon who lowered his 59.95 mark in the 400 hurdles from last season to 59.38 in finishing fourth overall. Right on his heels was first-year Nick Aldana who also eclipsed the old record in running 59.56 to finish fifth. "This is nice, getting two guys under 60 in the same race," said head coach Brent Ayer. "We went our first three years with no one being able to do it. Now, we have two on the same day. That's progress."
Aldana also earned third in the 110 meter hurdles.
The Blazers' two seniors posted second-place finishes. Justin Everett launched 20' 10 3/4" in the long jump and Ola Komolafe ran 22.79 in the 200. Komolafe also ran 51.15 to place fifth in the 400.
The Hood men picked up two places in the 3000 meter steeplechase with sophomore Brett Shelley grabbing third and junior Dave Gudeman taking fifth with a new personal best of nearly 22 seconds. First-year Stephen McNamara earned seventh in the 1500, while junior and first-year track man Zach Keyser placed sixth in the hammer.
"Zach is really beginning to understand the hammer," observed Ayer. "Throwing in a steady rain on a circle nearly under water, he added 12 1/2" to his personal best. If we actually get some decent weather, he should go significantly longer."
Rounding out the effort were a series of personal records. Matt Dyjack dropped both his 800 and 1500 meter bests by six seconds. Chris Catalfamo lowered his 800 best by six seconds and his 1500 by 11. Mike Richter had season-bests at 400 and 200 meters. Keyser added a personal best in the javelin.
The Blazers, who have been hampered by cold, rainy weather all season, hope for better conditions when they travel to York Saturday for the CAC track & field championships.
