Elizabethtown College’s men’s and women’s track and field Blue Jays wrapped up their indoor season on a high note, scoring well at the All-Atlantic Region Track and Field Conference (AARTFC) Indoor Championships on March 3 and March 4. Junior Myron Holland, in the men’s 60 meter event, qualified for the NCAA Division III Indoor Championships in Birmingham, Ala. on March 10 and March 11. Back at the AARTFC, Junior Kelty Oaster and Holland were named a part of the 2023 NCAA Division III Indoor All-Region teams by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. Oaster was one of two women named for the women’s 800 meter event, while Holland was named for the men’s 60 meter.
The men’s track and field team started off strong at the AARTFC with Holland pounding in lane three, qualifying at 6.88 seconds for the Championships, nearing the record for the event. According to the Athletics website, Holland became the second Blue Jay to go to the Championships.
In the men’s 3000 meter, senior Christian Gingrich came in 26th with a time of 8 minutes and 53 seconds. The day before, Gingrich competed in the 5000 meter, coming in 15th, clocking in at 15 minutes and 22 seconds.
In the men’s mile, junior Brandon Baxter and sophomore Daniel Myers stuck together coming in 16th and 18th, respectively. Baxter finished with a time of 4 minutes and 21 seconds whereas Myers finished at 4 minutes and 22 seconds, a literal second behind him.
Last but not least, the men’s four-member 200 meter relay came in 11th at 1 minute and 25 seconds. The relay consisted of Holland, senior Jalen Belgrave, junior Simon Burleson and senior Evan Schwab.
Over to women’s track and field, senior Jocelynn Itterly jumped 5 foot 3 inches, a personal record, in the high jump. She placed seventh overall. According to the Etown Athletics website, Itterly now ties for third for Etown’s record.
In the women’s 5000 meter, graduate student Melissa Fitzgibbon clocked in at 18 minutes and 36 seconds, coming in 18th.
At the NCAA Division III Championships, Holland finished the preliminary race in third, clocking in at his record time of 6.79 seconds. He moved on to the final, just needing to cross the finish line to hold the title of All-American, the first Blue Jay in the 60 meter event for Etown. He crossed the finish line with a respectable time of 6.87 seconds, placing seventh overall.
According to the Etown Athletics website, both teams are scheduled at the Jim Taylor Invitational on March 24 at Susquehanna University. Good luck Blue Jays!
