May 4, 2008

Complete Release in PDF Format

Amherst, MA - The University of Dayton track program has never quite had a season like this one.

Earlier in the year, the team took home a second place trophy from the indoor conference meet - its best finish ever. Now, after a successful weekend at the outdoor meet, the Flyers have put the finishing touches on the best season in program history.

Despite some chilly weather, two school records were broken as the team finished tied for silver with the University of Rhode Island. Held at the University of Massachusetts, the conference meet saw Charlotte nab its third straight outdoor title with 203 overall points, while the Flyers recorded 110.5 team points for a best-ever finish.

In the 100 meter dash, sophomore Lauren McCormick turned in a personal record time of 12.02 to claim fourth place. She was joined in the event by classmate Brittany Thomas, who finished seventh (12.31). McCormick would also run 25.59 in the open 200 to finish 10th.

Freshman Ashley Cattran closed a strong rookie campaign with a ninth place finish (57.66) in the 400 meter dash, while junior Stacy Chew ran near her personal best time (57.90) and came away in 10th place overall.

Another freshman, distance runner Liz Coorey, ran a season best time of 4:42.96 to place eighth in the 1,500 meter run.

Juniors Anne Oltman and Ellen Nienhaus each cut significant time off their previous record times in the 3,000 meter steeplechase. Oltman established a new school record by placing fifth in a time of 11:15.73, which eclipsed her previous personal best by approximately 21 seconds. Nienhaus, who shaved 13 seconds and also bested the previous school record, ran the course in 11:20.60 to finish seventh.

In the 100 meter hurdles, Andrea Cornell was the lone representative for the Flyers. The junior finished the race in 15.30, good for fifth place.

Each of the relay squads also ran extremely well on Saturday. Running for the first time this season, the 4x800 squad finished 6th in 9:12.10 and established a school record in the process. The 4x100 team took fifth overall with a time of 47.77, which was a season best by nearly two seconds and just .13 off the school record. The 4x400 relay members also flirted with and came within .20 seconds of a school record, as they finished sixth in 3:52.40 - a season best by over three seconds.

The Flyers also faired extremely well in the field events, where sophomore Sarah Allen captured her first conference title with a personal best throw in the shot put event.

In fact, Dayton placed three in the top six during the shot put competition. Behind Allen's winning distance of 46-03.25 was freshman Johnna Zaccari's toss of 45-07.25, which was personal record and good for second place. Another rookie, Mallory Barnes, took sixth place with a personal best of 40-09.75.

Senior Megan Sweeney capped off her Flyer career in style with a second place finish in the high jump (5-05.00). She was joined in the event by freshman Tiffany Maske, who finished fourth (5-03.00).

In the vaults, freshman Pembroke Strickland enjoyed her best finish of the season, reaching a personal best height of 10-06.00 and tying for second with teammate Katie DeVault. Sophomore Melissa Walls finished sixth (10-00.00).

Andrea Funk, a sophomore jumper, placed seventh in the long jump with a personal best leap of 17-06.75. In the triple jump, she took sixth and set a personal record as well (36-11.75).

Dayton also had three top ten finishes in the discus throw. Freshman Emily Overmyer placed fourth (137-02.00), while sophomore Molly McCarty set a personal record with her distance (128-08.00). Barnes was a placer as well, the rookie thrower finished 10th (117-07.00).

In the hammer throw, Barnes led the way with a fifth place finish on a distance of 156-06.00. Freshman Kerry Allen set a personal best (147-01.00) and finished eighth in the event, while McCarty grabbed ninth position with a throw of 139-11.00.

Dayton also had great success in the heptathlon, where junior Amy Kremer took second overall with 4,117 total points. Sophomore Emma Steinmetz medaled for the Flyers as well, compiling 4,073 to take third place. Another sophomore, Emily Krizmanic finished in seventh place with 3,692 points.