Friday, April 30
Army West Point
9:00 a.m.
Lehigh University
at
Patriot League Championships
Mountain Hawks end PLCs with a successful day two
5/1/2021 7:44:00 PM | Men's Track and Field, Track and Field, Women's Track and Field
WEST POINT, N.Y. – The Lehigh men's and women's track and field teams completed the 2021 Patriot League Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Saturday. The men's team finished fourth with a score of 59 points. The fourth-place finish is Lehigh's best finish since the 2012-13 season for the men. The women's team finished fifth with a score of 52 points, nine points behind Bucknell for fourth. The Navy Midshipmen took home the crown on both sides. The women's team compiled 295 points, while the men's team won in dramatic fashion on the last event (4x400) to clinch the title with 298 points.
"I'm very proud of our seniors for not only the effort they put out this weekend but throughout this difficult year and their entire career," said head coach Matt Utesch. "We had a number of scorers, some people on the podium and four All-Patriot League performances across both programs. This team has shown its resilience, overcome adversity and represented the Brown and White the right way."
The Brown and White had a plethora of phenomenal performances on the final day of events. The second day started with the completion of the heptathlon, and senior Maddy Harding jumped three spots in the final three events to finish second overall with a total of 4,859 points and just fell 13 points shy of the gold medal. The senior broke her PR score by nearly 400 points. Harding began the day by earning 623 points in the long jump, while then winning the javelin by a mark of (36.93) and then concluding the heptathlon with a fourth-place finish in the 800m (2:27.42). The Mountain Hawks also got big-time points from Bree Smentkowski. Smentkowski took seventh in the heptathlon with 4,197 points after finishing fifth in both the shot put (10.38) and the javelin (31.12),
Harding wasn't the lone female to achieve that silver medal, as senior Kaja Skerlj's (competing in her first PLC) remarkable time of 1:01.98 awarded her the shiny silver medal. Skerlj's time was a PR for her and puts her fourth all-time in school history in the 400mH. Another silver medal finish was the man, the myth, the legend, Connor Melko. Yes, Melko dazzled in the 5K and finished second with a time of 14:25.35. Melko went back-and-forth with Army's Marshall Beatty for the win but just couldn't pass him. For Melko, it won't be long until he replaces that silver medal with a gold one.
Another impressive outing today came from Kerry Perna and Calista Marzolino in the high jump. Perna, the first-year athlete recorded a PR and a bronze medal by finishing third with a mark at 1.66m. Marzolino also recorded a mark of 1.66m but recorded it on her third attempt. The freshman converted the 1.66m on her first attempt. Both ladies attempted the 1.69 mark but just barely missed clearing it. In the men's steeplechase, distance runner Nick Norton compiled a third-place finish to earn a bronze medal. Norton's time was registered at 9:03.36.
In the men's 1500m run, Sean Brown, reigning champ, finished sixth with a time of 3:54.14. Another Mountain Hawk to record a sixth-place finish was Michael Nardelli in the 110mH. The junior's time came in at 15.07. Four Lehigh athletes notched a seventh-place finish in the finals of their events with Brett DeWeese in the 100mH (14.99) and Amondo Lemmon in the 400m (50.41). Brittann Pierce took seventh in the high jump after clearing 1.93m. In the women's steeplechase, freshman Andrea Miller was the first Mountain Hawk to finish in seventh with a time of 11:19.11.
Both the men's and women's 4x100m relay team compiled fourth-place finishes for the Brown and White. On the men's side, Matt Solomon, Samuel Tapera, Nardelli and Lemmon finished with a time of 43.38. The women's relay team of Alexis Smith, Camari Griffin, Morgan McConnell and DeWeese came one spot sport of a medal and their time was 48.35.
The men's 4x400 relay team earned a fifth-place finish with a time of 3:23.87. That Brown and White group consisted of Harrison Ernst, Thomas Leitner, Brandtson Duffie and Lemmon. The women's 4x400 team compiled a sixth-place finish with a time of 3:56.61. The women's relay team was made up of Ashley Struck, Griffin, Smith and Skerlj. In the men's shot put, Riley LaRiviere finished eighth after posting a mark of 14.50m. First-year distance runner Christina Yakaboski also finished eighth in the women's 1500m with a time of 4:46.76. Lastly, Kyle Burke in the 800m finished eighth with a time of 1:57.63.
Up next, some Lehigh athletes will return to Army West Point next weekend for the Army Twilight Meet.
PRs FROM DAY TWO OF THE PLCs
Siani: 110mH, Discus, Javelin, 1500, Decathlon
Melko: 5k
Nardelli: 110m hurdles
Norton: Steeplechase
Zaun: 5k
Skerlj: 400m hurdles
Miller: Steeplechase
MacLellan: Steeplechase
Perna: High Jump
Marzolino: High Jump
"I'm very proud of our seniors for not only the effort they put out this weekend but throughout this difficult year and their entire career," said head coach Matt Utesch. "We had a number of scorers, some people on the podium and four All-Patriot League performances across both programs. This team has shown its resilience, overcome adversity and represented the Brown and White the right way."
The Brown and White had a plethora of phenomenal performances on the final day of events. The second day started with the completion of the heptathlon, and senior Maddy Harding jumped three spots in the final three events to finish second overall with a total of 4,859 points and just fell 13 points shy of the gold medal. The senior broke her PR score by nearly 400 points. Harding began the day by earning 623 points in the long jump, while then winning the javelin by a mark of (36.93) and then concluding the heptathlon with a fourth-place finish in the 800m (2:27.42). The Mountain Hawks also got big-time points from Bree Smentkowski. Smentkowski took seventh in the heptathlon with 4,197 points after finishing fifth in both the shot put (10.38) and the javelin (31.12),
HERE COMES HARDING!! Maddy is now second overall in the heptathlon after winning the javelin (36.93). Harding is within striking distance of the leader heading into the final event (800m)#GoLehigh pic.twitter.com/qjcyU4AISw
— Lehigh Track & XC (@LehighTFXC) May 1, 2021
Maddy Harding.. That is the tweet. Harding finishes second overall in the heptathlon with 4,859 points 🥈🥈Harding shattered her previous PR of 4,474 points.#GoLehigh pic.twitter.com/SOOvW749Xf
— Lehigh Track & XC (@LehighTFXC) May 1, 2021
Harding wasn't the lone female to achieve that silver medal, as senior Kaja Skerlj's (competing in her first PLC) remarkable time of 1:01.98 awarded her the shiny silver medal. Skerlj's time was a PR for her and puts her fourth all-time in school history in the 400mH. Another silver medal finish was the man, the myth, the legend, Connor Melko. Yes, Melko dazzled in the 5K and finished second with a time of 14:25.35. Melko went back-and-forth with Army's Marshall Beatty for the win but just couldn't pass him. For Melko, it won't be long until he replaces that silver medal with a gold one.
Kaja Skerlj takes second in the 400mH at 1:01.58! Insanely good run by Skerlj for 🥈#GoLehigh pic.twitter.com/hb5stas57f
— Lehigh Track & XC (@LehighTFXC) May 1, 2021
This right here is one heck of an effort by Connor Melko. The sophomore took second in the 5K with a time of 14:25.35 #GoLehigh pic.twitter.com/JiKu43YF9G
— Lehigh Track & XC (@LehighTFXC) May 1, 2021
Another impressive outing today came from Kerry Perna and Calista Marzolino in the high jump. Perna, the first-year athlete recorded a PR and a bronze medal by finishing third with a mark at 1.66m. Marzolino also recorded a mark of 1.66m but recorded it on her third attempt. The freshman converted the 1.66m on her first attempt. Both ladies attempted the 1.69 mark but just barely missed clearing it. In the men's steeplechase, distance runner Nick Norton compiled a third-place finish to earn a bronze medal. Norton's time was registered at 9:03.36.
The first of many medals to come in her career for Kerry Perna 🥉#GoLehigh pic.twitter.com/pJlgSwqq4Z
— Lehigh Track & XC (@LehighTFXC) May 1, 2021
Nick Norton takes third in the steeplechase with a time of 9:03.36! 🥉 The men's team keeps racking up points.#GoLehigh pic.twitter.com/ahA8ptCUfj
— Lehigh Track & XC (@LehighTFXC) May 1, 2021
In the men's 1500m run, Sean Brown, reigning champ, finished sixth with a time of 3:54.14. Another Mountain Hawk to record a sixth-place finish was Michael Nardelli in the 110mH. The junior's time came in at 15.07. Four Lehigh athletes notched a seventh-place finish in the finals of their events with Brett DeWeese in the 100mH (14.99) and Amondo Lemmon in the 400m (50.41). Brittann Pierce took seventh in the high jump after clearing 1.93m. In the women's steeplechase, freshman Andrea Miller was the first Mountain Hawk to finish in seventh with a time of 11:19.11.
Both the men's and women's 4x100m relay team compiled fourth-place finishes for the Brown and White. On the men's side, Matt Solomon, Samuel Tapera, Nardelli and Lemmon finished with a time of 43.38. The women's relay team of Alexis Smith, Camari Griffin, Morgan McConnell and DeWeese came one spot sport of a medal and their time was 48.35.
The men's 4x400 relay team earned a fifth-place finish with a time of 3:23.87. That Brown and White group consisted of Harrison Ernst, Thomas Leitner, Brandtson Duffie and Lemmon. The women's 4x400 team compiled a sixth-place finish with a time of 3:56.61. The women's relay team was made up of Ashley Struck, Griffin, Smith and Skerlj. In the men's shot put, Riley LaRiviere finished eighth after posting a mark of 14.50m. First-year distance runner Christina Yakaboski also finished eighth in the women's 1500m with a time of 4:46.76. Lastly, Kyle Burke in the 800m finished eighth with a time of 1:57.63.
Up next, some Lehigh athletes will return to Army West Point next weekend for the Army Twilight Meet.
PRs FROM DAY TWO OF THE PLCs
Siani: 110mH, Discus, Javelin, 1500, Decathlon
Melko: 5k
Nardelli: 110m hurdles
Norton: Steeplechase
Zaun: 5k
Skerlj: 400m hurdles
Miller: Steeplechase
MacLellan: Steeplechase
Perna: High Jump
Marzolino: High Jump
Players Mentioned
Distance
/ Men's Track and Field
Mid-Distance
/ Men's Track and Field
Hurdles, Sprints, Jumps
/ Women's Track and Field
Distance
/ Men's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track and Field
Jumps/Multis
/ Women's Track and Field
Throws
/ Men's Track and Field
Distance
/ Men's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track and Field
High Jump
/ Women's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track and Field
Distance
/ Men's Track and Field
Distance
/ Women's Track and Field
Hurdles/Sprints
/ Men's Track and Field
Distance
/ Men's Track and Field
High Jump
/ Women's Track and Field
High Jump
/ Men's Track and Field
Hurdles/Sprints
/ Women's Track and Field
Multis
/ Women's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track and Field
Jumps
/ Men's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Women's Track and Field
Sprints
/ Men's Track and Field
Distance
/ Women's Track and FieldLehigh Sports Central: Indoor Track & Field
Wednesday, January 22
Lehigh Sports Central: Track and Field
Wednesday, December 06
