Moravian Holds Leads After Day 1 Of Track Championships

Moravian Holds Leads After Day 1 Of Track Championships

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BETHLEHEM. Pa. - The host Moravian College track and field teams are off to strong starts as the Greyhounds lead the team standings after one full day of competition at the inaugural Landmark Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Bethlehem, Pa.

With seven events complete in both the men's and women's competition, the Greyhounds hold narrow leads over Susquehanna University in both men's and women's competition. The Moravian men have 98 points, 4.5 points ahead of Susquehanna. Juniata College sits third with 62, followed by Catholic University with 26 and United States Merchant Marine Academy with 22.5. For the women the Greyhounds have piled up 109.5 points, compared to 101 for Susquehanna. The top two teams hold big edges over the rest of the field as Catholic sits in third with 41 points. Juniata is fourth at 31, followed by USMMA with 19 and Goucher College at sixth with 4.5.

Day one saw several finals held in several field events, while most of the track finals will be held on Sunday. Moravian and Susquehanna built their lead on the men's side by placing first in several events. Moravian's Blair Maginnis was the only multi-event winner on day one as he placed first in the shot put with a toss of 15.29 meters and then won the discus with a best throw of 41.27 meters. Also claiming a first-place finish for the Greyhounds was Ozzie Brown who out-jumped the competition with an NCAA provisional leap of 7.26 meters to win the long jump.

Susquehanna also had event winners on the day in men's competition. Paul Thistle claimed one of two track victories on the day as he crossed the line first in 4:00.35 to win the 1,500. His teammate Mike Marr won the high jump with a best effort of 1.98 meters, and John Calvo was victorious in the pole vault by clearing 4.66 meters.

Andrew Smith of Catholic was the other individual event winner on day one as he ran a winning time of 33:16.05 in the 10,000.

Moravian and Susquehanna built their big advantage in team scores with several event wins, though Catholic, Juniata and USMMA also came away with victories.

The hosts did their damage in the field events, claiming wins in three different events. Mary King was the winner in the javelin and notched an NCAA provisional qualifying mark with a throw of 41.41 meters. Her teammate Symonne Scott also recorded an NCAA provisional distance with a leap of 5.57 meters to win the long jump. Anna Heim added to the provisional performances by clearing 3.70 meters to win the pole vault.

Susquehanna claimed a win on the track and added another in the field competition. Alycia Woodruff outran the competition in a time of 4:51.47 to place first in the 1,500. Ashley Moorman added to the Crusader's point total with a victory in the shot put with a toss of 10.24.

Catholic's Alys Cheatle picked up an event win by cruising home in a time of 39:52.46 to win the 10,000. Juniata's Kelsey Buffenmyer was the winner in the high jump with a top leap of 1.57 meters. Andrea Morrison was the victor in the discus with a throw of 33.86 meters.

The two-day championship event will conclude on Sunday with events beginning at 9 a.m.