School records fall as track teams ramp up competition

By CODY REYNOLDS

In the past two weeks, the University of Mary Washington Track & Field teams traveled to Ursinus College up in Collegeville, Pennsylvania for the Collegeville Classic on Jan. 23 and drove up to George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia on Jan. 31 for the Patriots Games. The events were their second and third meets of the season, respectively.

The Patriot Games were a huge success for the Eagles, who saw two school records go down on the day. Sophomore Glenn Taylor ran the 60-yard dash in 7.10 seconds, and senior Claire Harrington led the Eagles on the day by breaking her own school record in the pole vault with a leap of 11 feet, 1.75 inches. Both athletes were the previous record holder in their respective events as well, adding to their already impressive careers.

“I felt proud beating my own record,” said Taylor. “I just need to improve every week and hope for the best. I hope I can do it again soon.”

Harrington, who also holds the Capital Athletic Conference pole vault record, has one more goal on her mind.

“It’s never going to be good enough,” said Harrington. “I’m motivated by my desire to make it to nationals.”

Harrington is close to acquiring her goal, only needing a leap of 11 feet, 7.75 inches to make the cut.

The men’s track and field team brought home several top-three finishers in the Collegeville Classic, as well as the Patriot Games. Sophomore Ben Sorensen finished first in the mile with a time of 4:26 in the Collegeville Classic and finished third in the 3,000 meters with a time of 8:42 at the Patriot Games. Senior Nick Judy, who finished third in the pole vault with a vault of 14 ft., 10 in. in the Collegeville Classic, earned a respectable fourth place at the Patriot Games with a 14 ft., 1.25 in. clearance. The Eagles took third place at the Collegeville Classic, a mere six points behind Messiah for second place.

The women’s track team had a successful day as well at the Collegeville Classic, taking home third and fourth in the mile, with sophomore Teagan Young taking third at 5:16, and freshman Rachel Lewis finishing fourth, also at 5:16. Young was also able to capture third place in the 3,000-meter run at the Patriot Games, finishing only behind two Division I seniors.

Other top finishers for the Eagles included junior Taylor Cockerille, who finished third in the shot put event with a throw of 37 ft., 10.5 in., as well as second place finisher in Harrington in the pole vault, with a vault of 10 ft., 6 in. The women’s team also captured third place at the Collegeville Classic, eight points behind second place St. Joseph’s.

“Due to inclement weather, practice time was limited and at times you may not get any jumps before a meet, and at the meet you may only get three jumps,” fellow women’s pole vaulter sophomore Caroline Deale said.

Deale met her personal goals but did not place in the meet.

“I can do better if I run off the ground and finish my jump, that will get me higher,” said Deale.

Both the men and the women will be back in action on Sunday, Feb. 8 in the Vince Brown Invitational at Christopher Newport University, their last meet of the season before the conference championships.