Brockport dominates aerial competition
By Jim Krencik
SPORTS EDITOR
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John Brennan flies through the air during the long jump event. (Photo By Jim Krencik, SPORTS EDITOR) |
The College at Brockport outdoor track & field teams have only two weeks until the Brockport Invitational, but the Golden Eagles look ready for the spring’s showcase event.
Most of the Golden Eagles have been working at their events since the indoor season started in December, but there are some additional outdoor-only events that Brockport is already dominating.
Josh Dupuis placed first in one such event — the discus — at the University of Rochester Alumni Meet Saturday, as Brockport throwers went 1-2-3 in their second attempt at the event this season. Freshmen Andy Lockwood and Ray Lund took second and third behind Dupuis, who hit 45.98 meters in the event.
“I like doing the discus,” Dupuis said. “I do the shot put so much it’s a nice change of pace.”
Shannon O’Keeffe continued her record-breaking season with the triple-jump distance of 11.62. The jump was enough to win first place at the meet and in the Brockport record books.
The triple-jump record was just less than a foot shorter than that of O’Keeffe, who is ranked No. 1 in the country in the triple jump after two weeks of competition. O’Keeffe provisionally qualified for outdoor nationals, with a chance to defend her indoor triple-jump championship now written in for May.
Andrew Smith leapt to first place in the men’s triple jump, blowing by a crowded field with a 13.67-meter jump. Smith’s finish was nearly half a meter more than the second-place finisher.
Another freshman who stood out to Brockport head coach Mark Krueger was Ryan Gilmore, who dropped 1:15 from his five-kilometer run time.
“He looked very relaxed and has a lot of potential for the future,” Krueger said.
The men’s team grabbed four additional second-place finishes, including several by the team’s leapers. Chris Brhel took second in the pole vault and Joe Hitchcock placed second in the high jump.
The men’s teams’ depth was in full view, as Nick Mieney was right behind Brhel in the pole vault and John Brennan placed third in the long jump.
The men’s 4x200 and 4x400 relay teams both also finished second at the meet.
The women’s team was not to be outdone, as several Golden Eagles contributed strong showings. Keelan Walsh had Brockport’s highest finish in a race, a third-place performance in the 800-meter run. Julia Ruggiero had the best time in the second heat of the 1,500-meter run to take seventh place.
The leaping Eagles jumped clear of the pack, as Nicole Sosnoski and Britney Falcon won third and fourth in the triple jump. Lauren Campanella took fourth in the long jump.
Krueger said the jumpers benefit from competing and training together.
“It certainly helps to have others to train with and to motivate you,” Krueger said. “They have been a good support system for each other and it is a healthy rivalry.”
Another group of athletes that performed well was the men’s throwers. In addition to winning the discus, Dupuis took second in the shot put. Dom Gonzalez placed second in the hammer throw, with Greg Parizek taking fourth.
“We also have (a situation similar to that of the women’s jumpers) in the men’s throws,” Krueger said. “We’ve been very competitive at every level and although they are much more competitive in practice with each other than the women’s jumpers, it’s still been to the teams’ benefit.”
The women’s teams’ throwers were also on their game at Rochester, as Bridget Mayne took third in the hammer throw and Stacey Gibbons placed fourth in both the shot put and discus events.
Although the Rochester meet was a one-day affair, the Golden Eagles will get a chance to spread themselves out during the two-day Bison Outdoor Classic at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.
Krueger said he held back several of the women’s teams’ top performers in Rochester in order to have them rested for the Bucknell meet, so look out for the Golden Eagles to do well this weekend even though they are competing against Division-I schools.
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