If head track and field coach Fred Samara thought it was necessary to travel to warmer climates — Myrtle Beach, S.C., Raleigh, N.C. and Palo Alto, Calif. — to kick off the outdoor track season, the results of the Sam Howell Invitational home meet this past weekend proved him wrong.
After competing in ideal conditions across the board in southern states, the Tigers returned to a world-class track facility but sub-par competition and poor weather for the first of many home stands. Over 700 individuals from 14 regional schools convened on the tartan outside of Jadwin for a two-day competition that saw some notable Tiger performances.
Tiger underclassmen fared particularly well in the throws. Sophomore Rocky Craley captured the shot put with a distance of 16.40 meters. Classmate and All-American Josh McCaughey was the first collegian, second overall in the hammer throw at 61.81m. With that toss, McCaughey moves onto the national list as a provisional qualifier. To guarantee his ticket to Baton Rouge, La., he will have to close the gap on the automatic qualifier of 68m. Sophomore Mark Smith placed third at 54.26m.
In the javelin, sophomore Matt Stack placed second with a strong early season throw of 59.78m. Classmate Tim Releford, completing an admirable year-long process of rehab for a throwing injury incurred as a freshman, came in a close fourth, recording a distance of 59.06 m.
Distance coach Mike Brady looked to this meet as an opportunity to improve the speed of his charges. Running the majority of his athletes in events half of their specialty distance, the Tigers nonetheless fared well as they competed against a sub-par field. Six heats of the 800m run saw Tigers at the front of nearly every race.
Sophomore Jonathon Kieliszak, the 2002 indoor heptagonal champion at the mile captured the first 800m heat at 1:53.27, a time well off his personal best. Ed Zysizk (1:53.71) and Sam Snyder (1:55.40) rounded out the top three places.
Sophomore Tristan Colangelo, who recently made his season debut at Stanford in the 5000m, placed second in the third heat of the 800m at 1:59.34.
Also in the 800m, Junior Jon Bell showed that distance running has not affected his speed, as he captured heat four with a respectable 1:56.71.
Of considerable note is that of 53 total competitors in the men's 800m run, 21 of them — including one lone Tiger — ran slower than the 2:05.23 recorded by women's track and field captain Lauren Simmons this past weekend at the Duke Invitational, both a testament to Simmons nation-leading strength and the relative weakness of competition at the Sam Howell Invitational.
Both Colangelo and Bell, Tiger stalwarts in the distance events, also doubled back in the 1500m, giving Saturday an under-distance workout context. Bell placed third in the first heat running 3:54.17, while Colangelo ran 4:00.07 for sixth place in the same heat.
Senior Seamus Wealton, normally an 800m runner, traded 2-lapping for a single tour of the track and placed fourth in the third heat of the 400 at 52.15.
"It was cold, but considering the conditions, the meet went well," Samara said. "Our throwers performed exceptionally, with Josh McCaughey breaking the school record in the hammer. The conditions made it tough for the sprinters and jumpers. We consider this the first real meet of the outdoor season and are pleased that everyone is healthy at this point in the season."
The Tigers return to Weaver Stadium April 13 in a quad meet against a trio of strong Pennsylvania schools: Villanova, Penn State and Penn.
Read More
Women’s ice hockey names Courtney Kessel as new head coach
Lily PampolinaFollowing the resignation of Cara Gardner Morey, Princeton appointed Courtney Kessel as head coach.
Following the resignation of Cara Gardner Morey, Princeton appointed Courtney Kessel as head coach.
Former women’s basketball forward Parker Hill ’25 signs professional contract in Switzerland
Doug SchwartzAfter a successful senior season, women's basketball forward Parker Hill signed a contact to play professional basketball in Europe, following in the steps of her past teammates.
After a successful senior season, women's basketball forward Parker Hill signed a contact to play professional basketball in Europe, following in the steps of her past teammates.
No. 7 women’s lacrosse season ends in NCAA quarterfinals against No. 1 UNC
Hayk YengibaryanWith the loss, the career of senior attacker Mackenzie Blake comes to an end. Blake finished her career with a program-best 231 career goals and three first-team All-Ivy selections.
With the loss, the career of senior attacker Mackenzie Blake comes to an end. Blake finished her career with a program-best 231 career goals and three first-team All-Ivy selections.