Before spring break, the Blue Jays saw over 20 athletes receive podium finishes at the Landmark Indoor Track and Field Championships, as well as one national qualifier come out of the All-Atlantic Region Track & Field Conference (AARTFC) Indoor Track and Field Championships.
On March 1, both the men and women’s track and field teams traveled to Landover, Maryland to compete at the Landmark Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships. The men would leave with a third place finish, and the women a sixth place finish.
Sophomore Trevor Albright and fifth-year Kelty Oaster were the star Blue Jays at the meet. Albright won the 400-meter dash in a new championship record time achieved a new championship record time in the 400-meter dash with a time of 49.63 seconds. This time moves him to second all-time in the Elizabethtown Track and Field record books.
“While it was an amazing feeling to win landmarks in a championship record time, it was a little bittersweet, since the number one seed (Elliot Davis) didn’t run,” Albright said. “Overall, it was one of the happiest moments I’ve experienced in track when I looked up and saw my time.”
“For outdoor, my main and most important goal is to run faster than my high school best in the 400,” he continued.“Since I got injured last outdoor season, I wasn’t able to run the times I wanted. I hope to at least beat my personal best from high school, and maybe even run sub 49, which would be even greater.”
Albright also anchored the 4×200 meter relay and 4×400 meter relays, helping the 4×200 team place fifth and the 4×400 team secure bronze, seeing Albright bring in a total of 20 points for the team.
Oaster finished as the runner-up in both the mile and 800 meter races and helped anchor the 4×400 meter relay to a fourth place finish. Oaster’s time of 4 minutes, 59.30 seconds in the mile set a new championship record.
The women’s distance medley relay (DMR) was the first gold of the day for Etown, winning in a time of 12 minutes, 50.40 seconds. Sophomore Ellie Heilman, first-year Addison Kleinle, and first-year Kirsten Navich would create an opportunity for senior Maureen Bosak to anchor the relay to a gold.
“Competing in the indoor Landmark Championships as a senior brought along a lot of emotions,” Bosak said. “It was exciting but also sad knowing it would be my last. I had the chance to anchor the DMR relay, and with the help of my teammates we were able to win gold and qualify for regionals which made the day even more exciting seeing the work we put in all season pay off.”
Sophomore Will Inglis would be the final Blue Jay to strike gold, winning the men’s mile in a time of 4 minutes, 22.61 seconds. Senior Daniel Myers wouldn’t be far behind, earning bronze in a time of 4 minutes, 24.52 seconds.
An Etown track and field record saw its owner lower the record by the end of the meet. Senior Adam Carmo lowered his own school record in the preliminary rounds of the 60-meter hurdles, crossing the finish line in a time of 8.50 seconds.
“I’ve been chasing the school record in the hurdles since my freshman year where I was sitting at 2nd all time at 8.69,” Carmo said. “Unfortunately in my first race outdoors my freshman year I tore my hamstring and until this year, I’ve been battling that injury on and off. My sophomore and junior year I never reached where I once was as a freshman and it became frustrating for me. I knew that this year I had to give it all I had since this was really my last chance to try and break the record, a goal I’ve had my entire time at Etown.”
Other medalists for the Blue Jays included sophomore Joey Walko earning silver in the weight throw, the men’s distance medley relay earning bronze, and fifth-year Mylea Neidig earning bronze in the shot put.
Elizabethtown Sophomore Derek Kendig, the men’s 4×200 meter relay, the women’s 4×200 and 4×400 meter relays, Elizabethtown First-Year Addison Kleinle, Elizabethtown Junior Gwen Young, and Elizabethtown Sophomore Kate Bendall would round out top-5 finishes for the Blue Jays.
The next weekend, three relays and eight individuals traveled to Ithaca, New York for the AARTFC Championships. The Blue Jays had two top-10 finishes and two improved school records.
Carmo would once again prove his speed in the 60-meter hurdles, finishing 21st overall and tying his school record of 8.50 seconds.
“I am grateful to my coaches and teammates for believing in me throughout my career,” Carmo said. “I don’t think I would’ve kept with it throughout my injuries and hardships if it weren’t for them.”
Oaster would not only improve her school record in the 400, but would also improve her Landmark conference record as well. She would finish third in a time of 56.89 seconds, standing as the meet record for numerous heats before it was broken in a later heat.
Oaster is the sole Blue Jay to qualify for the NCAA Indoor Track and Field National Championships in the 800. She is currently ranked fifth in the nation in the event.
“I definitely feel grateful to be able to qualify in more than one event, it feels very gratifying to put in all of that work all season and see it start to pay off,” Oaster said. “The goal for nationals will always be to win, but I at least would like to have a run that I feel proud of.”
Oaster will travel to Rochester, New York for the preliminary round on Friday, March 14.
