Track runs at three events

By Anthony Medoro
Collegian Staff
April 9, 2008

The Explorer track and field team split time between the country’s East and West coasts over the weekend competing at Stanford University, Princeton and the University of Pennsylvania. Out west, the Explorers were led by senior Sean Quigley, who broke the La Salle University school record in the 10,000 meter run with a time of 28:03.72 at the Stanford Invitational. His performance earned him first place in the event and automatically qualified him for the NCAA Outdoor Championships as well as the Olympic Trials.

“Well, the record wasn’t even a big deal,” head coach Charles Torpey said. “I mean, he broke his own record, but to get the NCAA and Olympic trial standard - that was excellent.”

Senior teammates Joe Dare and Ed Baynes also had impressive finishes in the 10K. In section two of the event, Dare was able to capture 23rd with a time of 30:37.02. In section three, Ed Baynes took eighth place in 30:35.12.

In the men’s 800 meter run, senior Billy Rhea placed 21st with a time of 1:52.09, and junior David Alfano recorded a 23rd-place finish in 14:26.83 in section two of the men’s 5,000 meter run. In the “B” Section of the men’s 1500 meter race, sophomore Korey Edwards placed 12th with a time of 3:49.65 in section one of the event, and freshman Trevon Rainford took sixth in the second section, clocking in at 3:53.58.

On the ladies side, senior Rachel Papin grabbed 23rd in the 10,000-meter run in 35:05.25. In section number two of the 5,000-meter event, junior Christa Plummer captured fifth place with a time of 16:34.18, and senior teammate Carolyn Lipovsky hustled to a 19th place finish with a time of 17:05.83.

“Most of the runners ran really well out there, many of them having their best times ever,” Torpey said.

Back in Philadelphia junior Meaghan Hobson established the tempo for the Explorer women at the Penn Invitational taking second in the 400-meter dash in 55.90. Sophomore Ruth Brown was able to capture ninth in the 200-meter dash with a time of 48.81. Hobson and Brown also led the 4x100 meter relay team to a sixth place finish in 42.65. Junior Kimberley McIntosh and sophomore Jalessa Graham were the other two members of the relay team.

On the men’s side, senior James Tchabo finished second in the 400-meter dash with a time of 48.14. Close behind was freshman Andrew Maxwell, who sprinted to sixth place in 48.79.

“Tchabo and Hobson both ran great in their meets,” Torpey said.

In the 110-meter hurdles junior Steve Rendall secured third place, checking in at 14.78, and junior Orestes Medina snagged seventh in the long jump with a leap of 6.89 meters. The 4x100 relay squad also took sixth place for the men with a 42.65 finish. Team members included Tchabo, Rendall, senior Mike George and sophomore James Thomas.

At the Sam Howell Invitational at Princeton University, junior Tom Ranalli finished 6th with a time of 9:22.05 in the men’s 3,000-meter steeple chase, and sophomore Andrew Wagoner placed 19th in the 10,000-meter run in 31:16.91. Freshman Kristina Kubala sprinted to the 11th spot in 17:32.89 in the 5,000-meter race for the Explorer ladies. Her efforts qualified her for the Junior NCAA Championships.

“The distance kids ran great at Penn and Princeton. Kubala, Ranalli, and Rendall had great races,” Torpey said.

The Blue and Gold will again compete on the nation’s coasts this weekend at the Mount Sac Invitational in Walnut, Calif., and the Rider Invitational in Lawrenceville, N.J.

medoroa1@lasalle.edu