LANCASTER, Pa. – The Lebanon Valley men's indoor track and field team had a great first meet of the year on Friday as the Dutchmen recorded 19 Middle Atlantic Conference Championship qualifiers and two AARTFC Championship marks.
 
"After seven weeks of practice it was great to finally have the opportunity to measure our progress," head coach Melissa Byler stated about the meet. "I am very excited about where we currently are. We know what work needs to be done but it is apparent that our hard work has paid off. The blend of our upperclassmen's experience and newcomers ability looks like we have a promising spring semester ahead."
 
TOP PERFORMANCES AND QUALIFIERS
Owen Linder and Colin Winters were MAC qualifiers in the 60 meters as Linder ran 7.22 seconds to finish ninth and Winters crossed the line in 7.29 seconds to finish 13th. Linder also qualified in the 200 meters with a time of 23.43 seconds to finish fifth. Matt Bruchak finished fourth in the 400 meters with a MAC qualifying time of 53.16 seconds. The Dutchmen has three of the top four finishers in the 1000 meters as Elijah McKell won in 2:36.85, Sam Rothstein was second in 2:37.93, and Samuel Bower was fourth in 2:49.59. Rothstein won the 3000 meters with a MAC qualifying time of 9:16.52. Vinny Ferrizzi was second in 9:21.04 while Bower was third in 9:34.92. Joe Chukoskie finished sixth in the 5000 meters and qualified for the MAC Championships with a time of 15:38.38.
 
Zach Reed won the 60 hurdles in a MAC and AARTFC Championship qualifying time of 8.43 seconds. He then anchored the 4x400 relay that won in 3:33.90. Donovan Goundie, Bruchak, and Joshua Leidich were also apart of the winning relay team. All three high jumpers qualified for MACs led by Makih Cooper who finished fourth with a height of 1.80 meters (5'10.75"). Graison Michajluk had a height of 1.75 meters (5'8.75") while Alex Sabo also jumped 1.75 meters (5'8.75"). Ayden Stankus had a great start to the year in the pole vault with a MAC and AARTFC qualifying height of 4.45 meters (14'7.25") to win the event. Josh Otto finished sixth in the triple jump with a MAC-qualifying mark of 12.41 meters (40'8.75") on his sixth and final jump.
 
Trey Reynolds was one of three MAC qualifiers in the shot put with a toss of 13.08 meters (42'11") on his fourth throw to finish fifth. Sabo was eighth with a mark of 12.59 meters (41'3.75") on his first attempt. Luke Tobin threw the shot 11.72 meters (38'5.5") on his first collegiate toss to qualify for the MAC Championships. All four Dutchmen who competed in the weight throw qualified for MACs led by Reynolds who finished second with a mark of 15.26 meters (50'0.75") on his fifth toss. Cody Shay had a toss of 13.74 meters (45'1") on his second attempt, Nick Guerieri threw 11.99 meters (39'4") on his third throw, and Aonghas Evanick qualified with a mark of 11.75 meters (38'6.75") on his first attempt.
 
RECORD BOOK PERFORMANCES
McKell's 1000-meter time of 2:36.85 is second in the program record books. Rothstein's career best run in the 1000 meters is now 10th. Winters moved into the top 10 of the 60 meters at a tie for ninth with his 7.29 seconds. Chukoskie's career-best 5000-meter time of 15:38.38 moves him up to seventh from 10th in the record books.
 
Up Next
The Dutchmen will be off until January for the semester break. The next meet is on January 12, 2024 as LVC hosts the annual Dutchmen Invitational inside the Arnold Sports Center.

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