By Andrew Porzio Staff writer
The Susquehanna men’s and women’s track and field teams hosted the 33rd annual Jim Taylor Invitational on March 25. The meet featured a host of talent with schools from the division I, II and III level.
The River Hawks women’s team had an impressive day, posting 16 top 20 finishes. Senior Gabrielle Alguire led Susquehanna with her first place finish in javelin, while Senior Amy Kaschak took second in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.
Alguire came just four inches shy of surpassing her own school record in the javelin with a throw of 155’ 4”. She holds the mark for the longest throw in the country for Division III so far this season by 14 feet.
Kaschak posted a time of 11:27.06 in the steeplechase. Her time is the 10th best in the country so far this season.
A handful of athletes from the River Hawks men’s track and field team posted top five finishes in their events on Saturday. Freshman Robert Marks, junior Josh Brown, freshman Chris Petraskie and senior Matt Gass all posted top five finishes.
Marks took first place in the javelin with a throw of 199’ 11”, which is the fifth best in the country this season. Brown was nearly as impressive, finishing second in the event behind his teammate Marks with a throw of 197’ 1”.
Petraskie continued his impressive freshmen season with three top-three finishes on the day. He took second in the triple jump with a 44’ 7” jump, which was the best jump on the day among Division III competitors. He also finished third in the long jump and tied for third in the high jump.
Gass was once again impressive continuing his dominance from the indoor season. He finished with a third place finish in the 400-meter dash with a time of 49.96, which ranks in the top 20 nationally. Gass also had fifth place finish in the 200-meter with a time of 22.52.
The River Hawks will return to action at the Millersville Metrics meet on Saturday, April 1.
Last year in the Millersville Metrics meet, Gass burst onto the scene with a ninth place finish in the 400-meter dash. Sophomore Kaleb Waiwada finished 27th in the same race.
A young 4×400 relay team also had success taking home seventh place.
The team consisted of Waiwada, junior Kyle Entin, sophomore William Claxton and sophomore Justin Meyer.
Last year on the women’s side, the Millersville tournament was highlighted by then-senior Ashley West’s second place finish in the 200-meter run, the first time she had entered the event.
Senior Hannah Perkins placed 14th in the 400-meter run with a time of 1:03.24, and Kaschak ran to a third place finish in the steeplechase.
Meanwhile, sophomore Sarah Rinaldi set a personal best in the high jump, with a height of 1.48 meters.