Teams Ready For Outdoor Track & Field Championships

MADISON, N.J. – After a full season of outdoor competition six institutions will compete for a conference championship as the Landmark Conference hosts the Landmark Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships April 26-27 at Timothy Breidegam Track and Rocco Calvo Field at Moravian College in Bethlehem, Pa.

The competition will begin with competition in the men’s decathlon and women’s heptathlon at 11 a.m. on Saturday. Host Moravian will be joined by The Catholic University of America, Goucher College, Juniata College, Susquehanna University and the United States Merchant Marine Academy as each team tries to earn the first Landmark Indoor Track & Field Team Championships. Champions will also be crowned in 19 individual events and two relays for both the men and women.

The favorite to claim the crown in the men’s competition will be Moravian which claimed the championship at the Landmark Indoor Track & Field Championship. Led by Ozzie Brown and Nathaniel Tussey, who are both threats to win multiple events, the Greyhounds have potential to claim another team title and win several individual titles.

Susquehanna placed second at the Landmark Indoor meet by a narrow margin and will try to overcome that margin at the outdoor meet. Mike Marr has provisionally qualified for the NCAA Championships in the high jump while Paul Thistle won three individual events indoors and will be a factor in several distance events.

Juniata placed third at the Indoor Championships and with Tripp Rudolph leading the way in the 800 the Eagles will try and move their way into one of the top two positions. USMMA finished in a tie for fourth at the indoor meet and have several competitors who could challenge for points in the field events. Among them is pole vaulter Earle Coppa who earned a victory in the event at an invitational last weekend and has qualified for the ECAC Championships. Catholic was in that tie for fourth place and hopes that contributions from distance runner Andrew Smith and a deep sprinting contingent can help them move into the top three. Goucher also is deep in the sprints and led by Tade’ Ade-Turton could make some noise in the relays and in the sprints.

Moravian is a heavy favorite to also claim the title in the women’s meet after rolling to the title during the Indoor Championship meet. The Greyhounds have performers who can earn wins in nearly every area most notably Sydni Wisniewski and Jessica Posimo who have each already recorded several NCAA qualifying marks.

Freshman Alycia Woodruff will try and help the Crusaders knock off Moravian. She was the Landmark Rookie of the Year indoors where she won three events. Robin O’Hara is a versatile athlete who can also earn points in a variety of areas for the team.

Juniata was third during the indoor season and again will try and push its way into the top two. Laura Rupprecht and Kelsey Buffenmyer are both capable of picking up victories in multiple events. Dana Macaluso and Sheba Newman-Blount helped Goucher to a fourth-place finish indoors and give the Gophers threats in the jumps. Catholic will try and ride its strong distance and mid-distance corps into the top half of the standings. Jenna Hackett could be a factor in several running events. USMMA brings a strong group of throwers into the meet, including Rachel Hageman who enters the meet ranked first in the shot put.