Track, field teams compete at NYU

The Carnegie Mellon track and field team completed its indoor season with the University Athletic Association (UAA) Indoor Championships hosted by New York University. The event was held at NYU Feb. 25–26.

The men finished the conference tied for second place; the women’s team finished sixth.

“We’re having a great season,” said junior Benjamin Nealy. “The young guys are far exceeding initial expectations, and the seasoned veterans are providing great leadership, which will translate to great things for the rest of the indoor and outdoor season.”

One of the most notable performances at UAAs was from first-year Thomas Vandenberg, who set a school record of 1:53.71 in the 800-meter race. Vandenberg has been running hot all season, starting with the first meet of the season in Marietta, Ohio, where he won the 800-meter race with a time of 1:59.52.

Vandenberg cut over two seconds off his time a week later, although he finished in second place. In the finals at NYU, Vandenberg was beat for the 800-meter title by sophomore teammate Mike Standish, who took first with a time of 1:57.21; Vandenberg took fourth place with a time of 1:57.66.

Senior Rob Morhard has also been performing consistently well. He started his season off strong with a first-place finish in the 3,000-meter run with a time of 9:04.70. Morhard has also been performing well in relays. While teamed with Nealy, first-year Douglas O’Connell, and Standish, the team won the 4x800-meter relay at the season’s second meet in Edinboro, Pa. This past weekend, Morhard recorded a season-best mile with a time of 4:22.14.

Junior Noel Titus ended the season with a fifth-place finish in the 200-meter dash (23.10 seconds) and a sixth-place finish in the 60-meter dash (7.26 seconds).

On the women’s team, sophomore Jackie Guevel had a first-place finish at Kent State University last month in the 300-meter hurdles, recording a time of 45.96 seconds. Earlier this season at the Bucknell Winter Classic, Guevel broke two school records in the 60-meter hurdles and dash with times of 8.85 seconds and 7.92 seconds, respectively. Guevel wrapped up her season by breaking yet another a school record in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.77 seconds. She also achieved All-UAA honors in the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.94 seconds.

Junior distance runner Emily Wobb also started with a win, finishing first in the 5,000-meter run with a time of 17:44.24 in Marietta, Ohio. The time placed Wobb at No. 5 in the nation for the 5,000-meter run.

First-year Erin Kiekhaefer started her season strong by winning the 800-meter race at Marietta. She continued the season at the Bucknell Winter Classic and turned in a mile run with a season-best time of 5:15.47.

The Tartans have seen impressive performances in field events as well. Senior Ivana Moses had two second-place finishes at the Case Western Reserve University dual meet in early February. Moses’ first victory came in the long jump, with a distance of 5.09 meters, and then with a jump of 10.75 meters in the triple jump. Moses improved both of those distances at the Bucknell Winter Classic, recording her season-best long jump of 5.12 meters and a triple jump of 5.12 meters. Moses finished her season with All-UAA third team honors in the triple jump with a distance of 11.02 meters, which was a season best.

With the indoor track and field season over, both the men’s and the women’s teams are awaiting outdoor competition, which begins with a meet March 24–25 at Washington & Lee University. “Indoors is considered to be a stepping stone in our preparation for outdoor season, where we can excel,” said junior Carissa Iannone.