With the America East Championships looming in the not-so-distant future, the Boston University men’s and women’s track teams have refused to look back. Shredding personal records, as well as the opposition, the Terriers are looking for a strong finish to their outdoor season – the most impressive of which was a first-place finish at the Penn Relays – perhaps college track’s most heralded event.
BU senior Marissa Ryan, who took first place in the historic Penn Relays 10,000-meter race Thursday, finished the race in 34:11.32, placing her ahead of the NCAA provisional mark of 35 minutes. Ryan, who earned her second straight first-place finish since the Georgia Invitational 5,000m April 14, was named America East Track Performer of the Week for her incredible efforts.
Both the men’s and women’s squads also competed at the Brown Invitational in a final tuneup for the America East Championships on May 5 and 6.
The women’s team looked more than ready for the conference championships, when it will try to improve on last year’s second-place finish. Three Terriers recorded personal bests during the meet. Sophomore Rebecca Marshburn and freshman Casey Jordan recorded personal bests in the 400m hurdles, compiling times of 1:02.03 and 1:02.66, respectively. Freshman Stephanie Mach also bested her mark in the shot put, with a throw of 10 meters.
Though BU coach Robyne Johnson said she was pleased with the personal accomplishments, she said the team effort is what counts next week.
“Every spot is crucial. These girls are just as crucial to the team as every other place,” Johnson said. “These are the kind of meets where everyone needs to step up, and everyone will have to step up next week in order to capture the women’s title.”
The men’s squad also put on a dominating performance in its final meet before the playoffs, earning top-10 finishes in every event in which it competed.
Junior Andy Beatman, freshman Chase Carnahan and sophomore Mike Salem all had strong showings in the javelin seventh: Beatman finished 7th, Carnahan came in 16th and Salem finished in 23rd place.
In field events, sophomore Kodjo Wilder placed ninth in the long jump with a distance of 6.22 meters, and junior Dan Martin placed eighth in the shot put with a throw of 13.68 meters.
“Our men’s side is really trying to improve off last year’s finish,” Johnson said. “They had a strong finish in the indoor season [and] they’ve been placing well overall.”
The men’s squad showed off its strength in the track events. Junior Jake Laroe improved his time in the 800m, finishing third with a time of 1:55.19. Freshman Alex Baillargeon joined him in top-five honors, finishing fifth in the 200m with a time of 23.14.
Sophomore Jason Nardella, in one of the men’s best performances, posted a second-place finish in the 110-meter hurdles, falling just behind the top runner, Brown’s Matt Jasmin.
“Jason is very motivated,” Johnson said. “It’s his first year because he was out last year with an injury. He never ran outdoors over 10 collegiate hurdles before this year. He’s extremely motivated. He’s motivated to get his personal best.”
And with the America East Championships coming up this weekend in Baltimore, it shouldn’t take much for the Terriers to get motivated.
“I’m very encouraged by the way the team is competing. We have some high expectations,” Johnson said. “I look forward to a very successful America East Championship meet, and I know the kids are all ready to step up and compete this weekend.”