By Alyssa Gehris, Photography Editor
Both Susquehanna track and field teams finished off the regular season strong as the men’s team earned seven top-five finishes at the SU Invitational in Selinsgrove on Friday, Feb. 17.
Sophomore Chris Petraskie continued his impressive season, winning first place in two events. Petraskie won the long jump at 6.69 meters and the high jump at two meters.
“Last week’s meet was supposed to be a really laid back one, but I ended up doing really well in the two events I competed in,” Petraskie said. “I didn’t practice for the past two weeks so I was really fresh coming into it.”
The men’s team also had some other teammates place high in the long jump with junior Rakee Cromwell taking fourth, freshman Kenneth Kropp in 10th and sophomore Donovan Gayles in 11th. Cromwell placed third in the triple jump as well.
Senior Joshua Brown also contributed to the River Hawks top finishes at third place in the shot put and fifth in the weight throw.
Sophomore Jason Card took fifth and sophomore Michael Evans placed 10th in shot put. Dylan Heisey was 11th for both shot put and weight throw.
Senior Victor Gonzalez led the team for running events placing fifth in 60-meter hurdles final after taking fourth in the preliminaries.
“My events have gone well,” Gonzalez said. “I have been injured for the past three weeks. I’ve only had the chance to run twice.”
Senior Kyle Entin finished seventh in the 400-meter run.
Placing in the 800-meter run for the River Hawks was junior Kaleb Waiwada in ninth, junior Ciaran Fisher in 11th and freshman Leonard Bolinsky in 16th.
Leading the women’s team, also with a first-place win, sophomore Samantha Reed won the 200-meter run and placed seventh in the 60-meter dash.
“I have been getting consistent times in the 200-meter, but they are not quite as last year,” Reed said. “This week at champs, I will run as fast as I can to achieve a new personal best in the 200-meter, and to score points for the team.”
Reed is seeded in first place for the 200-meter run for the Landmark Conference Championship, and right behind her is teammate Sara Arbogast.
Other top finishers for the River Hawks were freshman Ryleigh Edmonds placing second in pole vault and senior Kailyn Reilly placing second in the 800-meter run.
Also in the 800-meter run, teammates senior Hannah Stauffer, freshman Marissa Kleman and sophomore Alexa Pietrini placed fourth, 10th, and 15th.
Sophomore Erin Reese recorded her career-best in the mile at 5:32.96, placing her in fourth.
Other team leaders included sophomore Maya Khanna in sixth and Grace Winakor in seventh for the triple jump.
Freshman Sara Arbogast took eighth in the long jump, senior Michelle Turnbach took 10th for the 60-meter hurdles, freshman Kate Ross placed 10th in the 400-meter run, and sophomore Toni Alexander took 12th in the 200-meter race.
Both teams will compete in the Landmark Conference Championship at Susquehanna University on Saturday, Feb. 24.
“My events are going well, and this weekend for champs my goal is to place top three in both events,” Reese said.
The men’s and women’s teams are both currently ranked third in the conference.