Track & Field teams finish strong at UAA championships

The Washington University men’s and women’s track and field teams attended the University Athletic Association Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Pittsburgh, Pa., on Saturday and Sunday, competing against six top teams. The men’s team took first place and the women’s second, bringing several event winners, multiple all-conference finishes and much pride back to St. Louis.

After the men’s and women’s teams won the UAA Indoor Track & Field Championship meet in February, the Bears entered the UAA Outdoor Track & Field Championship meet hoping to repeat their success. With a final score of 195.50 points, the men’s side won the meet by 46 points, while the women’s finished only 25 points behind Emory University with a score of 201.50 points.

“It was an awesome, great team performance,” head coach Jeff Stiles said. “The whole coaching staff is just so proud of our guys and girls. There were just so many unbelievable performances and new records broken. Just a terrific meet.”

On the first day, the Bears came out with a strong start, as the women’s team had four individual event winners. One of the event winners was sophomore Anna Etherington, who recorded a new UAA record height of 3.76 meters to win the event. Sophomore Moira Killoran and freshman Claire Simons placed second (3.16 meters) and third (3.01 meters), respectively. Wash. U. also dominated in the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase as senior Molly Wawrzyniak led the way with a time of 11:10.97, clinching the UAA title. Finishing in second place, freshman Lucy Cheadle recorded a time of 11:11.42, while senior Lacey Vogel made third place (11:25.09).

In the women’s long jump, junior Anne Diaz-Arrastia recorded a season-best 5.47 meters, winning the UAA title. Wash. U. also had fifth and seventh-place finishes in the event as senior Amanda Matheson and sophomore Jasmine Williams recorded distances of 5.21 meters and 5.13 meters, respectively. The women’s team also placed second in the 4×800 meters relay. Seniors Elisabeth Stocking, Liz Phillips and Erica Jackey and sophomore Elizabeth Worley, finished with a time of 9:37.75. In the women’s shot put, sophomore Madison Cannon placed third, earning all-UAA honors with a throw of 11.64 meters, her career-best.

On the men’s side, freshman Nick Alaniva led the way as the sole event winner of the day, as he finished first in the pole vault with a season-best height of 6.52 meters. Coming in third and seventh place in the event, freshmen Kyle Engelken and Tim Elliot recorded clearances of 4.11 meters and 3.96 meters, respectively. In the men’s long jump, Alaniva placed fourth with a height of 6.52 meters, while freshman Troy Makous finished eighth (6.03 meters). Junior Tom Arnold notched a fourth-place finish in the men’s shot put, throwing a distance of 14.14 meters. Freshman Zach Lonneman also performed well in the event, recording a sixth-place finish (13.84 meters).

In the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase, freshman Andrew Padgett finished with a time of 9:35.53, placing sixth. In the 4×800 relay, Padgett, freshmen David Gorsche, Brett Baker and Garrett Patrick finished sixth, recording a time of 9:04.34.

“We really executed very well on Saturday,” Stiles said. “We were ready both mentally and physically.”

On the second day, the women’s team was neck and neck with Emory. In the women’s 5000-meters, freshman Lucy Cheadle recorded a time of 17:27.09 to win the event. Wawrzyniak followed Cheadle, placing fifth with a time of 17:48.46. Wash. U. performed well in the 1500-meter run, as Jackey won the event with a time of 4:36.65. Phillips was runner-up in the event, recording a time of 4:37.48. Jackey and Phillips also dominated in the 800-meter run, as Jackey won the event (2:11.76) while Phillips placed second (2:13.51). Diaz-Arrastia ran well in the 200-meters, placing fourth with a final time of 26.07.

“The women’s [team] really did well overall, but we knew going in that Emory would be tough,” Stiles said. “We have no shame losing to them. They’re a great team.”

The men’s side carried its excellent performance to the second day as well. In the 110-meter hurdles, senior Tyler Jackson won the event in a time of 14.57. Senior Michael Burnstein recorded a time of 30:26.87 to win the 10,000-meters, while sophomore Kevin Sparks came behind in second place, 30:30.27. Burnstein and Sparks also placed third and fourth in the 5,000-meter run with respective times of 15:20.52 and 15:21.19. Freshman Brendan Stone had a fourth-place finish in the 800-meter run with a time of 1:59.13. Sophomore Arthur Townsend finished third in the 400-meter dash with a time of 49.76. Junior Ryan Doll performed well in the 200-meters, recording a time of 22.37 to place second. In the 100-meter dash, Doll placed fourth with a time of 11.36.

“This meet meant a lot to us,” Stiles said. “We’ve seen a lot of progress in our team, and I hope to see more qualify for nationals.”

The track and field teams will be back in action on Saturday, May 5, as they take on Monmouth College at 12 p.m. in Monmouth, Ill.