March 23-24, 2012 -- VMI/W&L Track & Field Carnival

Post date: Apr 28, 2012 9:55:44 PM

Warm sun on day one turned to cold rain on day two of the VMI/W&L Carnival as the Captains opened their season in Lexington. CNU managed 27 new PRs along with 6 changes to the All-Time Lists.

Solid Opener In Lexington For The Captains

Six CNU All-Time Performances Posted Along With 27 PRs To Start Outdoor Season

The weather on day one of the Virginia Military Institute/Washington & Lee Track & Field Carnival helped the Captains get off to a strong start in the 2012 Outdoor campaign as conditions were mostly ideal for Friday's events at Washington & Lee's facility. The same could not be said for day two at VMI's track down the hill as steady rains and cold temperatures greeted competitors, even forcing the Decathlon Pole Vault and Open High Jump competitions indoors.

Jade Zaharoff

The focus of Friday's track schedule was on the distance events. The Captain's filled the Steeplechase fields with five women and nine men - most of whom were making their first runs in the event. Senior Jade Zaharoff (Vienna, VA) won the women's race easily at 12:02.88 - just a second off her PR. Jessica McClelland (Stafford, VA) looked good early, but her debut was thwarted as she had to withdraw with a bruised heel. Julie Machamer (Norfolk, VA) and Sarah Russell (Manassas, VA) turned their first race over the barriers and water jumps in to the #6 and #7 spots on the All-Time Lists, respectively (13:12.71 and 13:19.93). The men were led by Aaron Zook's (Harrisonburg, VA) debut (10:34.35) with Daniel Austin (Culpeper, VA) a few steps behind and just eight seconds off his lifetime best (10:38.89).

The men's 1500m also featured a large CNU contingent as seven lined up in various sections of the Metric Mile. Samuel Martin (Rockville, VA) (4:10.31) and Christopher Allen (Reston, VA) (4:13.45) led the Captains with new PRs. Karen Bumiller (Burke, VA) was the lone Captain on the women's side and she represented the Blue & Silver well with a 5:07.02 - a seven second PR.

The track events concluded with the 10k where Brad Turner (Jamestown, VA) debuted at 34:36.70 and Eric Ginsburg (Loch Arbour, NJ) cut his PR by 29 seconds to 37:22.59.

While the distance squad got to race in the evening, the Field Eventers and Heptathletes started their work early in the morning. Senior Jonathon Wade (Rocky Mount, VA) opened his final Hammer campaign a mere four feet shy of his PR (41.06m/134-8) while Tony Harris (Brentsville, VA) and Taryn Langley (Hopewell, VA) each started ahead of where they left off last year in the Javelin. Harris reached a PR 38.14m/125-1 and Langley landed a 21.19m/69-6 PR. Langley also matched her Long Jump best at 4.34m/14-3 behind Caitlin Miller's (Huntington, NY) near-best 4.71m/15-5.5 start to the season.

The Pole Vaulters made two changes to the CNU All-Time Lists. David Fishman (Springfield, VA) cleared a long-awaited outdoor PR 4.27m/14-0 to move to =#6 and Lauren Snell slipped over 3.10m/10-2 and landed at #5 in CNU History. Amanda Reap (White Post, VA) matched her PR in the morning section (2.20m/7-2.5) and Kalee Hammerton (Royersford, PA) cleared 3.15m/10-4 in the second section of the women's Pole Vault.

The CNU Heptathletes started well with rookie Danielle Crowley (Rockville, MD) crossing the 100m Hurdles in 15.84 and Enuma Ezenwa (Herndon, VA) getting a PR 17.51. Noel Bartley (Waynesboro, VA) had a great start, but clobbered a late hurdle and ended up with an 18.15 start to the seven-eventer. Bartley recovered to add four PRs including all three second-day events and came up just 1 point shy of her Heptathlon PR (3008 points). Ezenwa posted PRs in the 200m (27.70) and Long Jump (4.44m/14-6.75) on her way to the #6 spot on the CNU Heptathlon List (3231) - right behind Crowley's 3396 point debut for #5.

The distance crew got back to work on Saturday with five PRs in the 800m. Samuel Martin had the fastest time of the day for the Captains at 1:56.91, edging Nick Hedrick's (Falls Church, VA) 1:57.16. Daniel Richard (Manassas, VA) (2:02.08), Andrew Larkin (Herndon, VA) (2:05.43), and Christopher Allen (2:06.18) followed with lifetime bests. For the women, Jade Zaharoff clocked a 2:30.14 PR and Julie Machamer did likewise (2:41.69).

In the 100m Hurdles, frosh Fredsal Walker (Herndon, VA) opened her season at 15.50. Jenna Elliott (Fredericksburg, VA) cut 0.6 seconds from her previous best to 17.68 and Kelsey Dolinger (Stafford, VA) added a PR 18.97. Robet Mayes (Culpeper, VA) and John McErlean (Annandale, VA) added three PRs to the tally in the sprints. Mayes just missed his best in the 100m (11.62) before dropping 0.15 from his 200m PR (23.09) while both of McErlean's were lifetime bests (11.64/23.39).

Next on the schedule for the Captains is the inaugural Commonwealth Duals featuring head-to-head team competition with Lynchburg, Washington & Lee, Mary Washington, and Virginia Wesleyan at home on March 31.

David Fishman