The Columbia track and field team triumphed as the Lions split up yet again this weekend to compete in the Arizona State University’s Sun Angel Track Classic in Phoenix and University of North Carolina: Chapel Hill’s Joe Hilton Invitational.
Despite fierce competition—including from several Olympians—the Lions had terrific finishes in both Phoenix and Chapel Hill. Last year, standout sophomore Jeff Moriarty was the only freshman to represent Columbia in the Sun Angel Track Classic and finished the 1,500-meter run in sixth place. This year’s Sun Angel Track Classic yielded even better results for Moriarty, as he led the pack to win the 800-meter premiere run with an NCAA qualifying time of 1:48.82. His fellow Lions, juniors Mike Mark and Chris Hays, finished 23rd and 29th in the event, respectively. Junior Serita Lachesis, one of the two female runners representing the Light Blue at ASU, outpaced Mary Cate Quiett of DePaul by a second and a half to win the women’s 800-meter run in 2:09.21. Lachesis did not participate in the premiere run, which went to LaTavia Thomas of No. 3 ranked LSU. However, her time was sufficient for an NCAA qualification.
Freshman Kyle Merber finished 10th in the B heat of 1,500-meter run in 3:28.68, outpacing senior Ryan Hays and juniors Willi Balenthin and Bobby Hartnett, who ran in the other heats. The title in 1,500-meter premiere run was captured by Liam Boylan-Pett of Georgetown, who crossed the finish line in 3:42.59 – well within the NCAA qualifying standard of 3:47.80. Sophomore Jackie Drouin managed a 12th place finish in the B heat of the women’s 1,500-meter run in 4:27.47-just within the NCAA qualifying range.
In North Carolina, a small group of Columbia competitors took to the track in the Joe Hilton Invitational at UNC. Freshman Sharay Hale came in fourth in the 200-meter dash in 24.37 seconds. Fellow freshman Kristen Houp finished the event in 21st place, only two seconds behind Hale, who bounced back from her fourth-place finish in the 200-meter dash to sprint past the competition in the 400-meter dash. Hale took the title in just 54.90 seconds, as sophomore Laura Vogel and Houp finished the event eighth and 17th for the Light Blue, respectively.
Freshman Kyra Caldwell, winner of the 100-meter hurdles at Penn’s recent Quaker Invitational, proved herself a force to be reckoned with in the hurdles, even among stronger competition outside of the League. In Chapel Hill, she soared over the 100-meter hurdles in 14.25 seconds for third place. She was outpaced by UNC’s LaToya James and independent April Garner who finished the event in 13.44 and 13.49 seconds. Freshman Laura Meadors closed the 800-meter run in seventh.
The Lions return to Ivy League competition at the Larry Ellis Invitational in Princeton, N.J. next weekend.
COMMENTS
Comments will be moderated in accordance with our comment policy