Bullets race to the finish at Susquehanna Open, Track and Field Has Successful End to Regular Season
By Elizabeth Hilfrank, Staff Writer
Photo courtesy of Gettysburg Athletics. Senior Andre Hinds placed third among 41 competitors in the shot put at the Susquehanna Open.
The men and women’s indoor track and field teams completed its regular season this past Saturday at Susquehanna University.
Both teams competed strongly in a last minute effort to lower times before the Centennial Conference Championships.
“It was a good tune up for the Centennial Conference Championship meet next weekend,” said senior captain Noah Rossiter. “We had a lot of strong performances that will hopefully carry over to the conference meet and into the outdoor season.”
On the women’s side, senior captain Kate Cavanaugh lowered her 60-meter hurdle time enough to reset her own school record with a time of 8.82 seconds. Her speed warranted her a first place finish in the event.
Cavanaugh also contributed to a runner-up performance in the 4×200-meter relay.
Cavanaugh led the relay while fellow senior captain Katie McCroubie finished it in a cumulative time of 1:51.04.
McCroubie also won the triple jump and participated in the 4×400-meter relay.
Sophomore Ellery Lyon made her mark in the record books as well, throwing 34-4 ¾ meters in shot put, which places her as the eighth farthest throw in school history.
Throughout the season there have been fourteen new women’s entries to Gettysburg’s indoor top ten lists.
Meanwhile, on the men’s side, junior Ben Taber finished first in the one-mile race with a time of 4:25.49. This time earns the seventh fastest time in school history.
The men raked in a handful of third place finishes as well. Senior captain Andre Hinds threw 45-5meters in the shot put, while first year Alex Petrecca ran 4:31.30 in the mile.
More third place finishes included the 4×200 meter relay, consisting of senior captain Bryan Procopio, junior Colin Bergey, sophomore Ryan Thompson and senior captain Travis Andrews, and the 4x400meter relay which also included Procopio in addition to junior David Trombetta, first year Thad Cwiklinski and junior Nate Wojcik.
Eleven new entries have been added to varying events on the indoor top ten lists for the men.
Both teams have a competitive line up for next week’s competition. Cavanaugh, McCroubie and Andrews have all been named the conference’s athletes of the week at various points this season.
Andrews broke Gettysburg’s long jump record earlier this season with a jump of 22-6 ¼ meters. He enters the conference championships as the number one seed in this event.
While the athletes have been successful this season, new additions to the coaching staff have also aided in the team’s triumph.
Coach Bryson Hartzler first joined as assistant coach to the men’s and women’s cross country teams this fall. As a former high jumper for Pennsylvania State University, Coach Hartzler now focuses on the sprints and jumps side of track.
“I am very fortunate to come into a program like Gettysburg’s that already has an established culture and a talented roster across the board,” said Hartzler. “I have been very pleased with the team’s willingness to buy into my philosophy and training program starting back in the fall.”
Also new to the coaching staff is Megan Borigo, a pole vault specialist, Charlie Skalaski, an assistant for strength training, and Tim Hampton, who focuses on hurdles.
The team has proven to operate well under the new dynamic, and it is the hope that this rhythm continues.
“The whole team is committed to the sport and extremely supportive of each other when we compete,” said first year Margot Hoagland.
“The results have been more than favorable with the sprints and jumps group this indoor season, and I expect that trend will continue this weekend at the conference championship,” said Hartzler.
The Bullets will make a final return to the track this Saturday and Sunday for the Centennial Conference Championships at Ursinus College.
