Distance Runners Pace Excellent Start to Weekend
4/17/2010 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
ATHENS, Ohio - They may be in two different locations, but the great results for the Kent State distance runners are the same.
On Thursday night, senior Aiman Scullion broke a 19-year record in the 10,000 meters with a time of 29:29.09, nearly eight seconds faster than Jim Loveless' record time. Fifth-year senior Andrew Carnes followed that up with the fourth-fastest time in school history with a 29:51.28 to take second.
Not to be outdone, junior Alex Lizarribar won in the women's 10,000 meters with a time of 35:44.58, the third-best time in school history. Junior Kassandra Meholik took third with a time of 37:45.56.
"It was an unbelievable weekend for Coach Croghan's group," said Director of Track and Field/CC Bill Lawson. "Aiman Scullion breaks the school record in the 10,000 meters at Mt. Sac and Andrew Carnes backing it up at the All-Ohio. Also, it was a very good job by Alex Lizarribar in her first 10k ever on the track. Kassandra Meholick also ran very well.
"It was a great job today by those student-athletes and Coach Croghan," Lawson added.
The men's hammer throw also picked up a second, third and fifth-place finishes. Junior Matt Pfleger took second with a throw of 207'-9" (63.33 meters), while senior James Eric and redshirt sophomore Aaron Crabtree finished third and fourth with PR's. Eric threw 206'-5" (62.93 meters) while Crabtree smashed his prior record with a mark of 186'-11" (56.97 meters).
"We had a good day over at the throws. Aaron Crabtree had a big PR in the throws by over 10 feet. James Eric also had a PR over at the weight throws while Matt Pfleger also had some strong throws. It's been a great start to the weekend," Lawson said.
Junior Jeremy Natter turned in a second-place performance in the men's long jump with a PR of 22'-1.75" (6.75 meters).
"Jeremy Natter also did a good job," Lawson said. "It was terrible conditions and nobody really wanted to get after it because it was so rainy and cold, but he came out and jumped a lifetime PR and took second overall. Here is a guy that doesn't get a lot of accolades but he works and competes hard.
"It was a fun weekend for Jeremy. He represented Kent State very well," Lawson added.
In the men's pole vault, freshman Alex Slattery cleared the bar with a personal-best of 14'-9" (4.50 meters).
"Alex Slattery also had an improvement in the pole vault after he had a no height so I am very happy he is moving in the right direction," Lawson said.
Finally, Kent State is among the meet leaders in the combined events. Junior Michael Schober and freshman Keith Hurst are second and third in the decathlon with totals of 3591 and 3422 points, respectively. Freshman Dexter Shreve won the 100 meters with a time of 11.01 while Schober captured titles in the 400 meters (49.77) and the high jump (6'-7," 2.01 meters).
"It was a little bittersweet for the combined events," Lawson explained. "It was bitter because Dexter Shreve couldn't finish after a great day. He might have been fighting for the lead but we had to pull him. The other guys have done real well. Keith Hurst had four PRs today. Were off to a good start there. It's Keith Hursts and Dexter Shreve's first decathlon."
Freshman Nicole Honsaker also took a pair of event titles in the 100 meter hurdles (14.84) and in the 200 meters (25.75). She currently sits in fourth in the heptathlon with 2705 points.
"Nicole Honsaker also had a good day and she has a good event in the long jump tomorrow, so we will see if she can hold that spot. It was her first collegiate heptathlon," Lawson said.
After day one, the women sit in second with 40 points, two behind leader Dayton. The men are currently third with 41 points, one behind co-leaders Cincinnati and Akron.
"From a team standpoint, we are sitting pretty well. We will bring a pretty good contingency tomorrow so we should fare very well," Lawson said. "We are not at full strength with Diana Dumitrescu only making one jump, Brenda Baar is not competing and Aiman Scullion is out west, so we will let the chips fall where they fall. My goal is to get through this weekend without anyone getting hurt and get out unscathed. We will compete next week and we will go to battle with the conference in four weeks."
Kent State returns to action Saturday (April 17) in the final day of the All-Ohio Championships in Athens, Ohio.
