Sports, Track and Field

Track and field team cancels annual Valentine Invitational due to blizzard

Due to unsafe travel conditions resulting from the recent snowstorm, the Boston University track and field team had to cancel its annual Valentine Invitational, which was scheduled to take place last Friday and Saturday.

BU Director of Track and Field Robyne Johnson said more than 3,000 athletes were scheduled to compete at the meet.

“It’s just a big letdown to our team,” Johnson said of the cancellation. “There were a ton of people coming, and it’s always an exciting time.”

Johnson also said that the canceled meet gave one less opportunity for BU athletes to qualify for upcoming championship meets.

“It’s disappointing by not having the other competition,” Johnson said. “The indoor season is pretty short as it is … [there are] a lot of championship meets you have to qualify for.”

According to Johnson, BU will be hosting an abridged meet Thursday in an attempt to post more qualification times. Northeastern University, Boston College, Harvard University, Brown University and Dartmouth College are expected to attend.

While Johnson said it was disappointing to the runners to have one less home meet, they will be hosting several other meets at the Track and Tennis Center in the coming weeks, including the New England Championships scheduled for Feb. 22 and 23.

“We’ve got a few more opportunities to run here, provided nature doesn’t take its course again,” Johnson said.

 

Matthews breaks school record at 

Husky Classic

Unable to participate in the Valentine Invitational, graduate student Katie Matthews traveled to Seattle to compete in the 3,000m run at the Husky Classic at the University of Washington Dempsey Indoor Track.

“We had a great field scheduled for the Valentine for the 3K, but since it was cancelled, we made the executive decision to take her out to the University of Washington,” Johnson said. “We knew there would be great competition, and luckily because we canceled in time, we were able to get her into that race.”

Matthews placed sixth overall in the race with a time of 9:05.73, breaking the BU school record in the event. She also broke the school record in the 5,000m with a time of 15:46.13 at the Terrier Invitational earlier this season.

Johnson said she was impressed by Matthews’ performance, but she was not necessarily surprised.

“Katie has been running phenomenally all year, and this is just another highlight of her doing what she does best,” Johnson said.

 

Field events consistently shine

While many Terriers have been excelling on the track, several throwers and vaulters have also been continually producing points for BU during the season.

Two vaulters, freshman Fritz Howser and senior Adam Weaver, most recently placed in the top 10 at the Tufts Stampede Feb. 2, both with marks of 4.15m.

“They have been doing a great job, those guys,” Johnson said of Howser and Weaver. “It’s a tough event, because you’re just running down that runway, and you’ve got to literally vault yourself over a bar. They’ve been doing well. They get better each week … point scorers, for sure.”

Freshman Reuben Horace is one of the top athletes in America East in the weight throw, recently placing fourth (19.00m) in the event at the Collegiate Invitational on Feb. 2.

On the same day, juniors Sarah Dillard and Chelsea Curry placed second (12.53m) and third (12.29m) respectively in the shot put at the Tufts Stampede. Senior Susan Ottey placed fifth in the weight throw, with a distance of 15.40m.

Johnson said she is delighted with the consistent improvement of her throwers.

“I’m extremely pleased with them,” Johnson said. “They worked hard all fall, and they’re getting better every week.”

“Sometimes track is a team sport in some ways, but very individual. Particularly in the throwing events, I you have to get it done, and they’ve been able to do that.”

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