Lehigh University
Patriot League Championship
Lehigh women, Uqdah shine at final day of the PLC
2/21/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track and Field, Track and Field, Women's Track and Field
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WEST POINT, N.Y. – The 2010 Patriot League Indoor Track and Field Championships have come to a conclusion as the Lehigh women finished in third place, while the men finished in sixth at Army’s Gillis Field House on Sunday. The women ended up with 92 points and missed out on second place by only four points. The men collected 33 of their 41 points on the final day to make a late push up the standings. Senior Khalil Uqdah, the Field Athlete of the Meet, set a new Patriot League record in the pole vault with a vault of 17’ 3.5”.
“Between the individual efforts on the men’s side and the combined team effort by the women, it’s one of the proudest moments I’ve had coaching at Lehigh,” head coach Matt Utesch said. “Overall the coaching staff is excited and proud of the ‘stellar performance’ of both teams.”
Bucknell finished first on the women’s side with a total of 168 points, while Army won on the men’s side as it finished with 165 points.
Uqdah finished in first place in the pole vault and scored a big 10 points for the men’s team. His record-breaking vault is tied for the 25th highest in the nation this season. His classmate Nick Ray was the men’s other top finisher as he won the shot put on his last throw of the day. Ray set a new personal-best by 30 centimeters as his top throw went a distance of 54’ 5.14”.
The women, who produced the best finish in Utesch’s tenure, were led by senior Ashlee Atwell as she finished second in the pole vault with a vault of 11’ 9.75”. She tied her own Lehigh record and earned All-League distinction with her performance. Sophomore Alexandra Doersam finished the meet scoring in four different events: long jump, triple jump, 60 and 200 meters.
Freshman Khaaleedah Smith finished third in both the 200 (26.21) and 400 (59.62) meters. Her strong performances earned her Rookie of the Meet honors. The women’s distance medley relay team, made up of freshmen Lauren and Brittany Pietrosh, junior Andrea Mascaro and senior Lauranne Kline, earned a second place finish with a time of 12:20.76. Their second place finish gave all four athletes All-League honors.
Junior Krista Belick tied her PR in the pole vault as she finished in fourth place. With the help of senior Kaitlin Grimm, sophomore Katherine Pierce finished fourth in the 3000 meters with a time of 10:14.08, which is a new personal-best. "Grimm did a good job of taking the lead early and pulling Katherine along," Utesch commented.
Other strong performances on the men’s side during the final day included junior Evan Flach, who finished third in the 3000 meters with a time of 8:26.75. Senior Franklin Johnson, who has been battling a hamstring injury, finished fourth in the triple jump with a total distance of 47’ 2.5”. Sophomore Stephen Tutunjian bounced back from a disappointing Saturday and finished right behind Johnson with a distance of 47’ 1.7”
The Mountain Hawks must now turn their attention to the IC4As and ECACs which take place in two weeks.
“We’re excited to go to those meets, but the rest this week is much needed,” Utesch said. “It only takes two or three athletes to score well and you will be right in the mix of things. I’m happy with the way our season went and I’m looking forward to the future.”
Women’s Team Results
|
Team |
Points |
|
Bucknell |
168 |
|
Navy |
96 |
|
LEHIGH |
92 |
|
Holy Cross |
80 |
|
Army |
79 |
|
Colgate |
60 |
|
Lafayette |
30 |
|
American |
15 |
Men’s Team Results
|
Team |
Points |
|
Army |
165 |
|
Bucknell |
159 |
|
Navy |
115 |
|
Lafayette |
76 |
|
American |
42 |
|
LEHIGH |
41 |
|
Colgate |
20 |
|
Holy Cross |
2 |
Inside photo provided by Dallas Miller of Army Athletics.
