Outdoor Track & Field Commences

Mia Williams / April 3, 2015 / 2.9k

Frostburg State University’s Indoor Track and Field team ended the season strong at the CAC championships, Saturday, February 21. Preparing for the upcoming outdoor season both athletes as well as coaches are optimistic about having an outstanding outdoor season.

March 21 marked the start of the outdoor season for the Bobcats 2015 outdoor spring season. California University of PA. opened its home track up to many collegiate athletes for the Cal U Early Bird Invitational.

Frostburg State University’s women and men’s team proved how determined and driven they were by their outstanding performances at the invitational. With over eight athletes placing in the top-10 of his/her event, it was aware that these Bobcat athletes did not come to play.

The Bobcat men’s team was led by leading seniors Seth Stine placing 4^th in men’s javelin with a throw of 49.30m.,and Chris Rickell placing 5^th in men’s high jump. Rickell, came close to jumping the ECAC qualifying mark, but was unfortunately off by 0.08meters. Devin Francillon took 8^th place in the men’s javelin with a throw of 46.85meters, and Giovanni Fitch placed 9^th in the men’s hammer throw tossing 38.03meters.

Although the men’s team had outstanding leading seniors, many of the underclassmen made their mark as well. Sophomores Sterlyn Elder and Xavier Alvarez were along side the leading seniors, in terms of placing in their respective events as well. Sterlyn Elder placed in the top-10 in both the 100m dash as well as the 200m dash. Running a speedy time of 11.17 (100m)in which Elder was able to place 6^th. Along with placing in the 100m dash, Elder was also able to place 9^th running a time of 22.62 in the 200m dash. Xavier Alvarez, on the other hand, ran a time of 16:52.43 in the 5,000m allowing him to place 10^th.

The Bobcat ladies did a superb job as well during the invitational. Sophomore Tiffany Cancel won her entire division of women’s discus, throwing a powerful 37.11meters. Just 0.39meters off, Cancel was close to meeting the ECAC qualifying standard. Along with Cancel, freshman Zoe Harris was able to not only place 4^th in the overall women’s javelin throw, but was able to do so by throwing her personal best (36.16m.) which allowed her to meet the ECAC qualifying mark. Sophomore Amy Virostek, who took second in her section of the women’s 400m hurdles, placed 8^th overall running a time of 1:10.36.

These Bobcats used their indoor season as a preparation for the now officially started, outdoor (spring) season. Coach Dale Luy, stated in an indoor pre-championship interview that “we want to be at our best by the end of the season, which is May.” With the teams’ hard work during practices and meets, the teams’ goal is for each individual athlete to peak and finish the season stronger than what he/she originally started. Remembering that the ECAC Championships will soon be ahead of these Bobcats, every practice and meet will be used as preparation in the hopes of ending the season with an ultimate bang. Frostburg State University will continue to support their Bobcats and wish them a great outdoor track and field spring season.