Track Splits with Lehigh

During the six-week interim break that most would describe as lazy at best, the Lafayette Track and Field team worked tirelessly to prepare for the upcoming League Championships in mid-February. Returning to Lafayette on the second of January might seem like a punishment to some, but Hallie Farber ‘14 certainly isn’t complaining. 

“We have a blast over interim,” the distance runner said. “It’s a great time for team bonding, getting to know the freshmen, meshing as a team and just enjoying being on the deserted campus. We watch movies, go out to dinners and just hang out together. There isn’t a lot to do, but we have fun.” 

When they weren’t bonding, the team was certainly training. “We have two-a-days for a few weeks,” Farber continued. “Usually a long run, a workout and some lifts thrown in.” 

The Men’s team defeated rival Lehigh in dramatic fashion, outscoring the Hawks 91-89 in a performance that came down to the last two events of the meet: the 400 and 800-meter relay. With the score tied at 89, the 400-meter relay team lined up with the meet on the line. The Leopards, Jarrel Bobb ‘16, Neil Franzese ‘14, Billy Leonard ‘14 and Nick Hepp ‘13 won easily, outsprinting Lehigh by six seconds. The 800-meter relay team needed a victory to secure a victory, and followed in successful fashion. Derrick Hargwood ‘14, Matt McMurray ‘16, Dayne Mosconi ‘13 and Chris Parker ‘13 secured the team victory with 8:02.11 time.  

Two seniors had outstanding overall performances in the meet, with Hepp winning the 400m individual race with a time of 50.05 and Parker winning the 800-meter run with a time of 1:56. Personal victories also came from Nick Orzol ‘13 in the 60-meter hurdles (8.59 seconds), Mac McGuire ‘14 in the shot put (14.52 meters), and Colton Mitchell ‘16 in the pole vault (3.8 meters). 

On the Women’s side, a strong team performance nevertheless left the Lady Leopards just short of a victory, losing to Lehigh by an overall score of 97-84. Elise Buffington ‘14 broke her own school record in the pole vault with a vault of 12’ 5’’. Other individual victories came from freshman Devin Smith ‘16 in the 200-meter dash (25.63 seconds), Brittany Powell ‘15 in the long jump (5.49 meters) and triple jump (11.69 meters), Rachel Pena ‘14 in the shot put (13.28 meters) and Stephanie Benko ‘16 in the two-mile run (10:30.81). Smith won her third Patriot League Rookie of the Week award for her performance.

Select members of the Lafayette Track and Field team will travel to the Big Apple this weekend for the New Balance Invitational while others make the short trip to Lehigh for the Covert Classic meet.