Marks, Black Hit Big Times at Terrier

(1/29/2013 10:53 AM) Full Results

Split-squad meets are always a challenge. For many teams, fewer teammates cheering can mean lower energy at the track. But this weekend, the divided Jumbos were much greater than the sum of their parts. With the throwers and jumpers across the Charles at MIT, the sprints and distance core made the most of the fast track and competition at Boston University’s Terrier Invitational, ending the day with more than a dozen PRs, five marks in the top 15 nationally, and a shot in the arm of momentum as January comes to a close.

Getting things started on Saturday was the 400 crew, each of them getting stronger week to week. Senior Vinnie Lee dipped under 50 seconds for the first time this year at 49.90, Woody Butler close behind in 50.16—a huge PR and excellent mark for the rookie. Sophomore Wylan Simpson (50.27) and junior Dan Lange Vagle (50.46) also inched closer to the 49s. Frosh Alex Kasimer set a lifetime best as well at 51.13. Lee, Simpson, Butler, and freshman Mitchell Black came back to run 3:23.35 in the 4x400, but with fresh legs that will surely drop as the season progresses.

Black’s 50-point split on the relay, though impressive, paled in comparison to his run in the 800, where he won his heat in a new PR of 1:53.19. That put him tenth overall in the event and moved him to the top of the freshman all-time list. He currently sits at fourth in the nation. A couple sections earlier, senior captain Jeff Marvel fought through uneven pacing to run a 1:53 of his own, and he’s just two spots back of his rookie teammate on the national list. With a more honest first quarter, Marvel has a few seconds left in the tank.

In the mile, senior Adam Brosh led the way with a PR of over a second at 4:20.24. He’ll push for the teens in two weeks at Valentine. First-year racer James Traester set a college PR of 4:28.28, with sophomore Joseph St. Pierre a second back in 4:29.

As the field event equipment was being carted off the track, the distance runners crammed into the infield to do strides. In the 3000, the Jumbos were five for six in PRs. The fastest mark of the night came from fifth-year Connor Rose, who competed unattached as he prepares for his final outdoor campaign as a Jumbo. Rose showed his fitness is coming along well as he chopped huge time off his PR to run 8:34.43, proudly edging Coach Welch by .09. 10 days out from his break-out 4:10 mile, Junior Jamie Norton used that speed to run a 2:45 last K and win his section going away in 8:35.26. Junior Ben Wallis didn’t match his lifetime best but put up the fastest debut 3k of his career in 8:47.26. At 8:50.63 and 8:53.84, sophomores Greg Hardy and Colin McCrory each qualified for the New England Championships and set PRs, Hardy’s an impressive 15 seconds fastest than his previous best.

No doubt inspired by these performances, senior Kyle Marks decided to put up his own 3k mark of 8:43…en route to his 14:33.63 run in the 5000. For Marks, who sat patiently at the back of the race for almost two miles before moving up to eighth overall, this was a PR of more than 10 seconds. He is currently sixth in the nation, but there is a lot of racing left around the U.S. in the indoor season. Regardless, this was a special run by Marks. His teammates took note, and in the very next section junior Andrew Shapero set a PR of his own at 14:58.15, his first time under 15 minutes. Seniors Tyler Andrews and Sam Haney fought well to run 15:03.66 and 15:10.95, respectively, and junior Jake McCauley ran a very smart race to finish in 15:16.57.

Overall, the Jumbos attacked every heat and battled to the line. You can’t ask for more. With a good deal of momentum, the Tufts Men’s Track & Field team will return to the Gantcher Center next weekend to host the Tufts Heptathlon and Stampede on Friday and Saturday. Stay tuned.


Full Results