TROY, N.Y. – The Southern Vermont College outdoor track & field squad started its second leg of the regular season on Saturday, going up against quality competition at the Upstate Classic hosted by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
The Mountaineers registered two new school records with an additional personal best. They also placed in the top 15 in seven of their 16 results.
The team is back in action next week, continuing to match up with tough opposition at the University at Albany's Spring Classic on Saturday, April 23.
SVC freshman pole vaulter Isaiah Backels (Derry, N.H.) won his event for the third straight week, going over the bar at a maximum height of 4.20 meters. That mark was just .20 meters off his team record that he set last Saturday.
Southern Vermont junior Darion James tallied a new College record in her first collegiate track appearance, breaking the program's previous top time in the women's 100 meter dash by .82 seconds with a 16.49 showing. She placed 11th overall with that time at R.P.I.
Sophomore Danielle Simmons (Rensselaer, N.Y.) broke her old school record in the women's shot put, throwing it .18 meters further for a mark of 9.21 that ranked 15th best on the day. Classmate Tanisha Wright (Brooklyn, N.Y.) also competed in the shot, pushing it .48 meters further than she did last week for a 6.41; that distance was just .06 meters shy of her personal best.
Mountaineer sophomore Marc Brandmeyer (Bennington, Vt.) competed in his first ever men's 1500 meter run, putting himself at second on the all-time SVC record list with a personal record of 4:16.65. He placed 14th overall with that time, a mark that was just .28 seconds behind the program's best-ever. Brandmeyer also placed 10th in the men's 800 meter run, coming in at 2:03.17 to be .98 seconds off his school-record time.
Sophomore Patrick McGovern (Cheshire, England) was ninth in the men's long jump, leaping .42 meters further than he did last week for a season-best distance of 6.32; that mark was just .02 meters off his personal record that he set last year. McGovern also placed 12th in the men's 100 meter dash with an 11.84, a time just .21 seconds slower than that which he posted last week.
Freshman Morgan Arleth (Berlin, Vt.) was .41 seconds behind her school record in the women's 200 meter dash with a 33.84, and she was also just .32 seconds shy of her PR in the women's 400 meter dash with a 1:16.57 showing.
Senior captain Cameron Michael Curtiss (Milton, Vt.) was only .07 seconds off his time from last week's 1500 meter run at 4:34.38, and he completed the 800 meter run in a time of 2:15.74. Junior Aden Fischer (Arlington, Vt.) ran the 400 meter dash in 57.07 seconds, just .25 seconds behind his personal record, and he ran the 800 meter run with a 2:22.19 performance.
Freshman Jackson Amankrah (New York, N.Y.) was .18 seconds faster in the 100 meter dash than he was in last week's meet, coming just .84 seconds behind his PR at 13.14. Junior long jumper Elmer Olivares (Miami, Fla.) leapt 5.36 meters, just .17 meters shorter than his personal best.
SOUTHERN VERMONT RESULTS
Women's 100 Meter Dash
Darion James: 11th – 16.49 (SR)
Women's 200 Meter Dash
Morgan Arleth: 33.84
Women's 400 Meter Dash
Morgan Arleth: 1:16.57
Women's Shot Put
Danielle Simmons: 15th – 9.21m (SR)
Tanisha Wright: 6.41m
Men's 100 Meter Dash
Patrick McGovern: 12th – 11.84
Jackson Amankrah: 13.14
Men's 400 Meter Dash
Aden Fischer: 57.07
Men's 800 Meter Run
Marc Brandmeyer: 10th – 2:03.17
Cameron Michael Curtiss: 2:15.74
Aden Fischer: 2:22.19
Men's 1500 Meter Run
Marc Brandmeyer: 14th – 4:16.65 (PR)
Cameron Michael Curtiss: 4:34.38
Men's Pole Vault
Isaiah Backels: 1st – 4.20m
Men's Long Jump
Patrick McGovern: 9th – 6.32m
Elmer Olivares: 5.36m
PR = Personal Record, SR = SVC Record