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`The Millersville men’s and women’s track teams had several players step up on both teams and put on a show for the home crowd as they hosted the PSAC East Challenge on Saturday.
Senior Priscilla Jennings won both the 800-meter and 1,500-meter runs. She ran a time of 2:18.56 in the 800 to edge Shippensburg’s Abigail Huber. Jennings won the 1500 by nearly three seconds with a time of 4:41.40. Freshman Elicia Anderson placed ninth in both events.
Priscilla Jennings eyes down the finish line in one of her two events which she participated in on Saturday. Jennings placed first in both the 800 meter and 1,500 meter runs. Photo by Barry Walton.
“Priscilla is in fantastic shape and I am glad that she won both of her races,” Distance Coach Andy Young said.
Junior Rachel Hull won the 5,000-meter run (18:52.03). It was a personal record time for her. Junior Brittany Zuver finished four seconds behind, which was good enough for second place.
Michelle Frayne also had a personal record in the long jump during the heptathlon. She also placed second in both the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 15.20 and the javelin with a mark of 37.44 meters. She was the only Marauder to place in three events.
Jennings, Hull and Frayne’s strong performances were even more impressive given the conditions on Sunday. The Marauders faced wind gusts of up to 40 mph.
“All three have been working very hard this spring semester to improve and I’m glad to see these strong performances in what was challenging wind,” Young said.
The men’s team also had a few standouts. Four members of the 1500-meter team finished in the top eight. James McBride paced the Marauders with a time of 4:08.04 for a second-place finish. Joshua Foulds placed behind him in third with a time of 4:08.75. Zach Kelchner and Jim Boyer captured sixth and seventh, respectively.
Three Marauders also excelled in the long jump. Freshman Jorrell Nugent placed fifth with a leap of 6.45 meters. Junior Stephen Boyd took sixth with a mark of 6.43 meters. Junior Brendon Thomas’ jump of 6.40 meters put him in seventh place. The three were within .05 meters and showed that they have stepped up their game.
“Our male long jumpers have really come a long way despite being young in the sport,” Young said.
The Marauders had the extra motivation with this being a home meet, but they have set their sights for the future.
“The PSAC East challenge meet is not our focus for the year, but it certainly was nice to have a home competition and we definitely wanted to see our athletes succeed,” Young said. “So I would say that there was some added pressure because of the home venue but I also think our athletes realized that we are really trying to get ready for the PSAC Championships in May also here at Millersville.”
Next for the Marauders is the Bucknell Outdoor Classic. The three-day event starts April 10 in Lewisburg, Pa. The team expects similar results, and more.
Young expects Frayne, who is already nationally ranked in the Heptathlon to improve her mark so that her national standing is higher which would help her get selected for the NCAA meet. Jennings should also win the 800 and 1500-meter again to qualify for the NCAA meet. Zuver will also run the steeplechase.
“I think she is poised to make some noise on the National level,” Young said.
On the men’s side, Young expects Thomas to establish himself as one of the top decathletes in the PSAC.
Junior Jim Boyer will be going for an NCAA mark in the steeplechase. He currently has the top mark in the PSAC.
They also hope senior Adam Kravatz can get back to the pole vaulting form he had during the indoor season when he was one of the top vaulter in the PSAC.