Track & Field: Towson qualifies Athletes for ECAC’s

By: Alex Ziolkowski, Contributing Writer 

Towson qualified eight athletes for the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Association Champions (ECAC’s) and set a school record.

The Tigers participated in a split squad meet this weekend with half of the squad competing at the Fast Track Last Chance meet in Staten Island, New York and the other half at the Mason Last Chance Meet in the George Mason University Field House in Fairfax, Virginia.  

“It’s very common,” Head Coach Mike Jackson said. “We brought each athlete to where we felt they fit the best, based on competition and ability.”

After recovering from some small injuries senior Wilhelmina Austin made a comeback by finishing third in the triple jump. Her distance of 11.99-meters is the third farthest in program history.

Austin also qualified for the ECAC’s Indoor Championships.

The distance medley team consisting of freshman Abby Gauthier, Erica Israel and juniors Megan Kelly and Megan Knoblock placed third in their event.

They set a school record time of 12:14.66. The previous school record of 12:42.86 was set in 2009, and the past indoor track record of 12:19.31 was set in 2010.

“The distance medley team also did a great job at the meet in Staten Island,” Jackson said.

Marella had a terrific night in the 3000-meter run setting a personal best in 10:04.50 to attain third-place. She now ranks third overall in the Tiger Top 10.

Freshman Lauren Coleman and senior Jader Godsey made the Tiger Top 10 list with their individual weight throw distances. Coleman threw for 12.05-meters and Godsey threw for 11.28-meters.

Senior Zanae Freeland clocked in at 7.70 in the 60-meter dash for seventh-place.

Her time was just two hundredths of a second shy from qualifying for the ECAC championship. However, Freeland improved a hundredth of a second off her previous time of 7.71 that ranks second in program history.

Three Tigers achieved personal bests in the 3000 meter run as sophomore Colleen Cook finished third at 10:38.33, sophomore Hannah Walters made sixth at 10:40.10 and sophomore came in ninth at 10:42.59.

Freshman Naja McAdam classed in fourth with a jump of 1.60 meters and senior Emerald Vickers tied for seventh place with a height of 1.60 meters.

Senior Maggie Rampolla made fourth-place in the pole vault with a height of 3.80 meters. Juniors Courtney Rose and Brynn Warrington trailed in sixth and eighth place with matching heights of 3.60 meters.

“The pole vaulters did a great job leading into the ECAC championships,” Jackson said.

Jackson wants the team to continue to pay attention to details and increase their level of tenacity during competition when select members attend the ECAC championship from March 4-6 in Boston.

“We are excited that we’ve qualified eight individuals,” Jackson said. “We most definitely want to make our presence felt and try to make finals and score some points.”

The Tigers outdoor season begins with a three-day competition, the 49er Classic, from March 17-19 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

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