Lehigh University
John & Carol Covert Classic
Seniors shine at final Track and Field home meet
4/24/2021 8:57:00 PM | Men's Track and Field, Track and Field, Women's Track and Field
BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- On a beautiful day at the Goodman Track for the Lehigh men's and women's track and field teams, the senior class shined in their final home meet. After an unpredictable year, the senior class came together to celebrate their careers, in front of teammates and limited family members in attendance. The day was highlighted by the seniors across the board, earning 11 of the team's 31 PRs.Â
"Most of this year when we were not sure from week to week or really even day to day if we would be permitted on the track, our team showed up in a big way today," said head coach Matt Utesch. "31 PRs really tells that story. Our seniors led the way on a beautiful day at the Goodman Track and Field Complex. How very fitting that the group of seniors who have endured so many challenges, including a global pandemic, finish up their "home field" careers in such a dynamic fashion. This is always an emotional day for me but this year is especially different. We have been through a lot with this group and I am very, very proud of them."
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For the women, the day kicked off in the field events with the javelin, as senior Brianna Wanbaugh took home the win with a throw of 39.45m. Teammate Karina Roze took third (38.41m) and fellow senior Madison Harding finished in 4th (37.60m) to round out a strong Mountain Hawk finish. Continuing the impressive showing in the throws was Teasha McKoy, who took home a second place finish in the shot put, while throwing a new PR of 13.19m. McKoy continued her success by winning the discus throw with a mark of 42.74m. Teammates, Brittany Curtin and Karina Roze, rounded out the top six, with Curtin finishing in fifth place, and Roze in sixth place. Brittany Curtin made the best of her senior day, winning the hammer throw with a new PR of 55.06m. Curtin saved the best for last, as her PR came in the last throw of finals. It was all smiles from the senior, who made the most out of her last meet on her home turf.Â
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In the other field events, the women had a strong showing in the high jump. The Mountain Hawks took the top spot, with Calista Marzolino taking home the win for the second week in a row. Marzolino's jump of 1.65m matches the height from last week, which ties her PR in the high jump. Carly Carpino and Emily Dolan both had success in the high jump, with Carpino jumping a new PR of 1.50m, while Dolan tied her PR at 1.45m. Lehigh took home seven of the top eight places in the high jump, an event that is historically strong for the squad. At the long jump, Lehigh was represented by Avery Roze, who was the team's top finisher at 4th place. Roze set a PR with a jump of 5.28m, while junior Bree Smentkowski jumped a PR of 5.16m. Junior, Carly Roche, was Lehigh's lone competitor in the pole vault, finishing in 5th place with a jump of 3.05m.
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The excitement kicked off on the track, where Lehigh took home wins in the first two events. Andrea Miller captured the victory in the 3,000m steeplechase, beating out the competition from Loyola by nearly 36 seconds. Miller missed a PR by less than a second, but will look for redemption next weekend. In the 4x100, Lehigh finished first with a time of 48.16, with seniors, Brett DeWeese, Lexi Smith and Morgan McConnell, along with junior, Camari Griffin, getting the baton around the track for their fastest time of the season. Representing the Mountain Hawks in the 1500m was Madison Zaun, who ran a new PR of 4:54.03, finishing in fifth place. The seniors continued to shine in the 100m hurdles, with DeWeese running a season best (14.59) en route to a second place finish, while Madison Harding finished in fifth with a new personal best of 14.94. Fellow multi-event athlete, Bree Smentkowski, rounded out the hurdles, running a PR of 16.40. Senior Aisha Kumar ran her way to a new PR in the 400m, finishing with a time of 1:01.66.Â
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Lehigh found a great deal of success in the 800m, setting four new PRs, and coming away with the top two spots. Hetty McMillan was passed late in the race by Loyola, but she responded well, coming away with the win en route to a PR of 2:16.21. Senior Miranda Royds used a late surge to race her way into second place, also setting a PR with a 2:17.01. Christina Yakaboski and Emily Dolan ran the two lap race, capturing PRs with times of 2:20.02 and 2:23.20 respectively. Continuing the strong success of the senior class, Kaja Skerlj ran a spectacular race in the 400m hurdles, winning by three seconds. For the fourth time this season, Skerlj raced her way to a new PR when she crossed the line in 1:02.54. Camari Griffin led the way for Lehigh in the 200m, finishing in fourth place with a PR of 26.00.Â
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In the longest distance race on the track, sophomore Eirinn Sikes led the way for Lehigh, in a PR of 19:23.07 for 5000m. The day was capped off with an exciting win in the 4x400. After numerous lead changes throughout the race, Lexi Smith threw down an impressive anchor leg to carry her teammates Aisha Kumar, Morgan McConnell, and Kaja Skerlj to victory.Â
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On the men's side, seniors once again stole the show. Riley LaRiviere had a career day, setting three PRs, and leading the way for the men in three of the four throwing events. Riley started his day by throwing 46.21m in the discus. He continued his impressive efforts with an improvement in the shot put, with a mark of 14.85m. Riley finished his busy day unleashing an impressive toss of 57.26m in the hammer throw. This mark was good for a second place finish and puts Riley in a great position going into next weekend's Patriot League Championship. In the javelin, sophomore John Siani threw a new PR of 37.84m, which was a three meter improvement for the young decathlete. Rounding out the competition in the field events was sophomore Britt Pierce, who finished in third place in the high jump with a mark of 1.90m.
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Riley Williamson, representing the Brown and White, kicked things off on the track with a second place finish in the 3000m steeplechase. Next came the 4x100 relay, who ran a season best time of 43.23 on their way to a win. Seniors Matt Solomon and Sam Tapera were joined by Trevor Thenga and Amondo Lemmon for the victory. The Mountain Hawks earned four PRs in the 1500m, with senior Michael Mitchell leading the way in second place, running a personal best of 3:58.75. Kyle Burke rounded out the top three, finishing just behind Mitchell, while senior Nick Norton also raced his way to a PR of 4:03.94. Sean Campiglia and Tyler French also earned PRs, as the sophomores finished with times of 4:06.73 and 4:07.24. In the 400m, Amondo Lemmon posted a personal best of 49.86, good for fourth place overall.Â
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For the first time this season, senior Matt Solomon laced up his spikes. Solomon sprinted his way to a win in the 100m with a time of 11.23. The track heated up once again as the Lehigh men put on a show in the 800m. Connor Melko showed his range, as he finished fourth overall in 1:52.62, which was nearly a four second personal best for the sophomore. Senior, Sean Brown finished right behind Melko, with Jacob Martinez, Joseph Cranley and Jeffrey Kirshenbaum rounding out the top 11 places. Martinez ran his way to an eighth place finish and a PR of 1:54.92, while Kirshenbaum crossed the line at 1:56.18, breaking 2:00 for the first time in his career. Freshman Brian Healy rounded out the PRs for Lehigh after running a new time of 1:56.83. In the final event on the track for Lehigh, Lemmon came back to lead the way for the men in the 200m with a team best finish of third place.Â
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After a long day, the team took a moment to honor the senior class. With twenty-four seniors on the team, there was a lot of gratitude for athletic opportunities and a lot to celebrate. It was only fitting that the seniors led the way for the program today, just as they have done for four years. In reflecting on the day, a few seniors had some thoughts to share.
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"Competing in our last home meet today made me truly appreciate my time here at Lehigh. Everyone's resilience to make it to this meet and compete hard all season has made me proud to represent Lehigh XCTF. After being injured for over a year and fighting so hard to make it to this point, I look back at my struggles knowing that it was the support of my teammates that got me through."
-Sean Brown
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"Today's meet was a great way to end our last meet at Lehigh. Riley LaRiviere's performance in the hammer throw stood out the most. I've watched him work so hard over the last four years, and it's finally paying off. So many of our seniors hit their PR's and won their events, and I couldn't be more proud of how far they've come."
-Brittany Curtin
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"Today's meet was very special for me. My races went well and the weather was great, but the thing that I'll carry with me for the rest of my life was how proud I am of my teammates. I am on the 4x1 relay with Lexi Smith, Camari Griffin, and Morgan McConnel. I'm lucky to be the lead leg so I get to watch each girl run after me, and it was a great feeling to see that each hand-off was smooth and Morgan looked great as the anchor. We ran a season best and we're so excited to run one more time at Patriots. It has been such a privilege to be able to be on this relay with these girls and to work towards a common goal together."
-Brett DeWeese
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"It has been a crazy four years and I am so happy to have finished it at home on a high note with my best friends and teammates. I am so thankful for everyone sticking together through all of the ups and downs. I wouldn't have wanted it any other way, I am going to miss it.'
-Riley LaRiviere
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Up next, the Mountain Hawks will travel to Army West Point for the Patriot League Championships. The two day meet will begin on Friday, with competition ending on Saturday. There will be no spectators allowed at the meet.
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Players Mentioned
