Zandrew Bowe
Web Editor
The ESU Track and Field team took on the PSAC championships at Bucknell University. After two electric days of competition, the men’s team ended the meet third overall and the women’s team fifth overall.
A weekend packed with action started with the men’s distance medley relay where the squad of Luke Valdevit, Jaylen Morrison, Emmanuel Gitonga and Brian McGarrity took seventh place.
Headlining the top performances was Donovan Anderson. Anderson was the lone champion for ESU with his first place finish in the Triple Jump with his jump of 15.07 meters. He also took second place in the long jump with a new school record of 7.44m. Anderson followed this performance up at the D2 national championships in Virginia Beach. He earned All American in both the long jump and the triple jump.
“Job’s not finished. I’m ready to break more records for outdoor. Ready to go to nationals again, and this time I need first team All American instead of second,” said Anderson.
Jack Gorham took seventh place in the long jump with a jump of 6.77m. Anderson would also finish in eight place in the 60 meter dash in 7.10. Destiny Thompson sprinted to fifth place with 7.61. She would break the school record in prelims with 7.59.
After two long days and seven events, Caleb Carney had the third best Heptathlon score in school history scoring 4701 points and earning a second place finish. Daniel Daley finished the heptathlon in eighth place. After five events, Elyssa Pemu took fifth in the pentathlon scoring 2961 points.
“It was exciting, I’m really proud of my finish. It’s my first time being on the podium. It’s really rewarding knowing all your hard work has paid off,” said Pemu.
In the hurdles, Kobe Jenkins stormed to a bronze medal finish with his time of 8.37. Jeanette Jones took fourth place for the women in 8.99.
“For outdoor, I’d like to come out with the same energy that I brought and execute the 110s a little bit better. Mainly just come out and compete at the highest level,” said Jenkins in anticipation of the outdoor season.
In the 200m dash, Miguel Charlery came in fifth place with 22.30 and Raul Esteves in sixth place in 22.50. Destiny Thompson placed fourth with her time of 25.1.
The men’s weight throw saw podium finishes from three warriors. Daryn Blackwell in fifth, Isaac Almoney in sixth, and Anthony Voto in eight. For the women, Elizabeth Makar took second place and Isabella Marte third. Makar nabbed another silver medal in the shot put.
The pole vault saw Chris Costa vault himself to a fifth place finish in 4.30m. For the women, Nickie Annelli vaulted 3.50m for fifth and Heather Gaughran also vaulted 3.50m and placed eighth after attempts.
The final event of the weekend came down to the women’s and men’s 4x400m relays. The women consisting of Ariel Kyle, Jeanette Jones, Kayla Horning and Destiny Thompson fought all the way for a bronze medal finish in 4:00.72. Joshua Rand, Ryan Ditty, Emmanuel Gitonga and Miguel Charlery battled their way to a fourth place finish.
