Wheaton posts solid showing at USATF New England Championship

February 22, 2004

CAMBRIDGE, MA- The Wheaton College men's and women's indoor track and field teams competed at the United States Track & Field (USATF) New England Championships over the weekend, as the Lyons had a solid showing Sunday afternoon at Harvard University. No team scores were kept at the meet.

Senior Amber James (Woodbury, MN/Woodbury) spearheaded Wheaton's impressive finishes on the day, including posting the top two times in both the 200- and 400-meter dash events. Placing first overall in the open 400, James yet again notched an NCAA Division III national meet automatic qualifying time at 55.26. Improving her season-best in the 200-meter dash, James collected a second-place mark with a time of 24.92. Sophomore Aspen James (Woodbury, MN/Woodbury) captured the 60-meter dash, but due to equipment failure no time is available.

Junior Jessica Allegra (East Hampton, CT/East Hampton) and sophomore Oly Wirtz (Fitchburg, MA/Fitchburg) placed third and fourth, respectively in their 200-meter dash heat, with Allegra finishing in 26.64 and Wirtz at 27.03. Freshman Alison Amendola (Franklin, MA/Franklin) topped the competition in her heat of the 400-meter dash in 1:00.02, while Wirtz placed fourth in the same section at 1:02.34.

In the distance events, sophomore Kendra Leith (Holden, MA/Wachusett Regional) placed fifth overall in the 3,000-meter run with a time of 10:29.24, while sophomore Christina Langevin (Wilbraham, MA/Minnechaug Regional) finished seventh in the 5,000-meter event. In the field, Wheaton captured three of the top five performances in the high jump, including freshman Crystal Blamy's (Walpole, NH/Fall Mountain Regional) individual title and provisional qualifying height of 5' 6". Junior Kathrine Wallace (Glenmoore, PA/The Hill School) was second with a jump of 5' 4 1/4", while freshman Jennifer Harlow (East Bridgewater, MA/East Bridgewater) took fifth at 5' 2 1/4". Sophomore Noelle Battista (Warwick, RI/Toll Gate) was victorious in the pole vault, as she registered a national meet provisional qualifying mark of 12'.

On the men's side, senior Erik Benson (Southbury, CT/Pomperaug) posted the third-fastest time in the 200-meter dash at 22.08 and also finished third in his section of the 60-meter dash in 7.18. Benson later sided with juniors Adam Walker (Westfield, NJ/Westfield) and Patrick Freytag (Pittsford, NY/McQuaid Jesuit) and sophomore Ajay Sisodia (Andover, MA/Andover) to record a national meet provisional qualifying time in the 4x440-yard relay with a time of 3:19.43, good for second place.

Sisodia recorded Wheaton's fastest time in the 60M event with a fifth-place finish of 7.13, while senior Tyrone McClain (New Haven, CT/Hillhouse) placed seventh in the same heat in 7.21. In the 400, Walker finished fourth in his section in 50.46, while Freytag was also fourth in a different heat in 52.45. Junior Stan Pyle (South Portland, ME/South Portland) posted a top ten placement in the mile run at 4:19.00. Senior Terry Panetta (Hicksville, NY/St. Anthony's) was on his heals, placing 13th overall in 4:20.74. Junior Jamaal Rawls-Payton (Stoughton, MA/Stoughton) rounded out Wheaton's solid track marks with a time of 8.83 in the 60M hurdles.

In the field, junior Dan Olson (Voorheesville, NY/Albany Academy) returned from an injury to place second in the high jump, while Sisodia also took second in the long jump with a distance of 22' 1". McClain wasn't far behind with a jump of 21' 5 1/2" and fourth-place finish. Freshman Ryan Fitzgerald (Newport, RI/Rogers) finished seventh in his shot put flight with a throw of 43' 6 1/2".

The Wheaton tracksters return to action next weekend at the All-New England Championships held at Boston University, as the Lyons begin competition at the two-day meet on Friday, February 27 at 10:00 a.m.

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