The indoor season has been a successful one for the men's track and field team: a third place finish at the Div. IIIs, a fifth at the ECACs, a host of personal records, and two athletes qualifying for NCAAs. With the NCAAs held this weekend at DePauw University, IN, the Jumbos may have even more to celebrate before spring break is even truly underway.
Coach Connie Putnam has continually made reference to the young nature of the team this season. However, while youth may translate to a lack of experience on the track, it does not necessarily give way to a lack of performance and composure.
"It was definitely a successful season," senior tri-captain Adam Sharp said. "The team is very young so there's really no place to go but up from here. The performance at the Div. III's was the best since I've been here, in fact the indoor season was probably the best since I've been here too."
It may be difficult to imagine then what the team may be capable of in the future, given Sharp's words. The season has been filled with several notable performances.
Senior tri-captains Greg Devine (7.56 seconds) and Bryan Pitko (7.65) capped off their indoor careers with NCAA-qualifying marks in the 55 meter hurdles. Devine broke the school record, held by Pitko, at the Div. IIIs at MIT, where the pair finished one-two. They proved a dominating force throughout the season, despite battling a couple minor injuries, and look to be named All-Americans again.
Sharp (career best 2:30.63) attempted to break the school record of 2:29.32 in the 1000 last week at the ECACs. While he narrowly missed breaking the record, Sharp set career bests in all his events this season, including the 800 (1:57.23), the 1000, the 1500 (4:02.40), the mile (4:22.66) and the 3000 (8:59.53). He was also named to the NESCAC All-Academic Team.
"I'm a little disappointed because I didn't make Nationals and didn't get the school record in the 1000," Sharp said. "But I set PRs in all my events, so I guess that's pretty good. I'm really looking forward to the outdoor season."
The often-overlooked throwing team was impressive too. The team of five, led by senior Adam Lukowski and junior Ryan McPherson, featured three newcomers in sophomore Dan March and freshmen Jason Galvin and Brandon Udelhofen. March (45-11.50) excelled in the weight throw, consistently surpassing 45 feet, while McPherson (42-7.75) led the shot putters. Lukowski (38-6.25 in shot put, 41-10.5 in weight throw) was a strong asset, while Galvin passed 40 feet in both events for the first time in his career.
"I think we did really good for a team with such a large group of new throwers," Galvin said. "There should be a lot of improvement in the next season."
The sprinters' season was highlighted by freshman Shawn Hansberry's school record-breaking 600 dash at the Stampede Invite in early February. The Westford, MA native (1:22.49) broke John McGuire's 2000 record of 1:23.37, winning the race by nearly four seconds.
"The sprinting aspect of my season went really well," Hansberry said. "Obviously with the record that's solid, but I still have things to work on."
Sophomore Ray Carre broke the 50-second barrier in the 400 for the second time in his career with a PR of 49.37. He is ranked among the top in New England.
On the field, pole-vaulters junior Adrian Clarke (13-7.25) and freshmen Seth LaPierre (14-7.25) and Will Heitmann (13-01.25) were steady contenders all season and all qualified for the Div. IIIs. Sophomore long jumper Nate Thompson finished second at the Div. IIIs with a career-best 22-09.75 and third at the ECACs.
The distance team highlighted its season with nine runners finishing under nine minutes in the 3000. The group included Sharp, juniors Peter Bromka (8:52.56) and Jon Rosen (8:54.87), sophomores Michael Don (8:41.84), Nate Brigham (8:45.45) and Aaron Kaye (8:55.67), and freshmen Kyle Doran (8:44.85), Matt Lacey (8:45.97) and Michael Cummings (8:53.38).
"A lot of people pulled through with a lot of PR's," Hansberry said. "[Adam Sharp] pulled through all season, and obviously Devine and Pitko, who came through injuries to make Nationals. We're starting to get a little more depth for the next few seasons. We did well overall as a team because we surprised a lot of people."
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