Twenty PSAC Qualifying Marks Set at the DeSchriver Invitational

High jumper William Berry takes to the sky. Photo Credit / Lance Soodeen
High jumper William Berry takes to the sky. Photo Credit / Lance Soodeen
High jumper William Berry takes to the sky.
Photo Credit / Lance Soodeen

By Ronald Hanaki
Sports Editor

The 17th Annual DeSchriver Invitational took place at Koehler Fieldhouse last Saturday.

The annual event is held in honor of former ESU athletic director Dr. Richard “Dick” DeSchriver.

DeSchriver was also the coach of the men’s track and field and cross country teams at ESU for twenty years prior to becoming athletic director.

“We had twenty-seven teams and some 1,500 student-athletes,” said men’s track and field coach Joe Koch. “It was one of our more competitive meets.”

“Being at home, over 100 alumni showed up. Our kids like competing at home in front of their family and friends. The support was fantastic,” Koch continued.

In total, the Warriors won four events and recorded twenty PSAC qualifying times and marks.

In only the second event of the day, mighty Travis Toth set the tone for ESU by winning the men’s weight throw. Toth threw 62’ 11 1/4” (19.18m) to improve his NCAA Division II provisional qualifying mark in the event.

Senior William Berry, who was named the PSAC Men’s Indoor Field Athlete of the Week in January, put on his Superman cape and won the high jump for the third year in a row by clearing a height of 6’ 6 3/4”.

Sean Hagerty, a junior, won the long jump title for the second year in a row by setting a personal record of 22’ 9” (6.93m).

Freshman Akeim “The Dream” Thomas won the 55m hurdles in 7.75 seconds.

“He [Thomas] is a pleasant surprise. He can sprint and hurdle and help us out with the relay,” said Koch.
Sophomore Christian Castro finished right behind Thomas in the 55m hurdles with a time of 7.85 seconds, and senior math wiz Adam Robertino finished tied for seventh in a PSAC qualifying time of 8.06 seconds.

Along with Thomas, the breakout star for the track team this season is freshman sensation Marissa Flim.

She set a new ESU freshman record in the 55m dash with a time of 7.30 seconds.

Later, Flim ran the women’s 200m in 27.16 seconds for third place.

Flim was also a part of the women’s 4×200 meter relay team that finished second with a time of 1 minute and 48.6 seconds.

The men’s 4×200 meter relay team also finished second in a time of 1 minute and 32.77 seconds.

The men’s 4×800 meter relay team finished second with a time of 8:25.79.

Steven “Mr. Peanut” Morgan finished fourth in the high jump with a jump of 21’ 4 3/4” (6.52m).

In addition to the long jump, Morgan ran the 60m hurdles at the Armory Track Invitational last Friday. Morgan’s time of 8.14 seconds is currently tied for fifteenth place as an NCAA provisional qualifier.

On Monday, Morgan was named the PSAC Indoor Track Athlete of the Week.

Sophomore distance runner Kaylyn West set a new ESU record in the 600m with a time of 1:40.39.

ESU’s Kelley Anne Stuetz, Jaid Harsch, and Joanne Mason finished 2-3-4 in the women’s 55 meter hurdles. All three finished with PSAC qualifying times.

Other notable performers included freshman Victoria Collins, who finished second in the high jump by clearing a height of 5’ 2 1/2” (1.59m).

The high jumping trio of Samantha Mason, Carla Dutt, and Samantha DiPietro jumped 16’ 11 1/4” (5.16m), 16’ 8” (5.08m), and 16’ 7” (5.05m) respectively. Mason’s jump was a PSAC qualifier.

In the pole vault, junior Brandie Tartza cleared a height of 10’ 4” (3.15m) to qualify for the PSAC championships in the event, and senior Eric Conard cleared a height of 13’ 1.5” (4m).

In the triple jump, junior La Treil Ridgeway and sophomore Brad Najac both jumped 43’ 6 1/2” (13.27m).

Freshman Joanne Mason jumped 35’ 6” (10.82m) for fifth place, and senior Tirzah Johnson jumped 35’ 1/2” (10.68m) to finish in sixth place. Both Mason and Johnson’s jumps were PSAC qualifiers.

ESU’s Jasmine Amro, Allison Decker, and Lauren Monteith finished 4-5-6 in the women’s 5000 meter run.

The track and field team will return to competition at the Fast Track National Qualifier on Staten Island, New York tomorrow.

“We’re looking forward to this weekend. It’s a brand new facility that cost over $110 million dollars to build. It’s supposed to be a great facility,” said Koch.

Email Ronald at:
rhanaki@live.esu.edu