2005 PSAC Men’s Championship Preview

             This year’s Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Men’s Track and Field Championships looks to be a hard fought battle. Indoor champion Shippensburg hopes to repeat their Outdoor victory from last year, but it won’t be an easy contention against teams like Lock Haven, Slippery Rock and Kutztown, among other who will be fighting for the team championship.

            Events to watch this year vary in the multiple aspects of the sport. A total of 35 PSAC student-athletes have hit national qualifying standards in 13 events.

            The distance races, primarily the 5k, should be a close battle. With eight people provisionally qualified for the national championship in the event, and last year’s top five finishers returning, the race should culminate to a dramatic finish. Shippensburg will be tough to beat, holding several standouts on the squad. Sophomore Richard Hanslovan currently is ranked on top in the 5k. He was named MVP at the indoor championship and was last year’s 1500m champion. John Somers, a junior, is also sits on the top of the leader board for the 1500. He is currently ranked ninth in the nation. Alton Richards will also be a contender for an individual title, having the top time in the 100m and 200m, just ahead of teammate Jamal James. Kendrick Marsh is the only runner in the PSAC to be provisionally qualified in the 800m. He placed second at last year’s championship. Mark Piccolo, who was last year’s open 400m champion, and Dan Helfrick in the 10k are other names to watch out for at the championships. 

            Lock Haven will be trying to match up to Shippensburg’s squad with individuals like Chris Cowan. Cowan, a senior, ranks at the top of the chart in the 10k and is the returning champion in the event as well as the 5k. He ranked ahead of teammate Aaron Benson, who also provisionally qualified in the event. Joe Wiegner is another senior who is coming on strong in the 800m and 1500m. Bill Buckenmeyer has the top seed in the steeple and is the only runner in the PSAC to have provisionally qualified in the event. Lock Haven’s Jim Dempsey has reached the highest height in the high jump so far, as Fieldon Daubert has done in the hammer throw.

            Slippery Rock has two of the nine qualifiers in the javelin in Dave Pavone and Tony Carr. Carr is automatically qualified in the event. In the discus field, Slippery Rock also has the third, fourth, and fifth best distances in the conference to date. Tim Tray and Erik Dravenstott are the top two pole vaulters so far this season. Slippery Rock was last year’s champion in the 400m relay. Finishing third last year in the team championship, Slippery Rock will once again be in a close contention for the team title.

            Kutztown doesn’t stand far behind. Jim Dart in discus, combined with Kutztown’s 400m and 1600m relays could be top fighters for all-conference honors. Tony Hegedus has the fastest 400m hurdle time of the season and Dave Bartolomucci is tops in the open 400m.

            West Chester has a tough sprints group, having the second fastest time in the 1600m relay. They combine to have three individuals in the top six in the 400. Ryan Waltermyer is at the top in both the 400m and 800m and was the 800m champion at last year’s contention.

            Mansfield returns sophomore Chris Cummings. Cummings is near the top of the rankings in the 5k, and was last year’s indoor mile champion. Josh Wooten also returns in the 3000m steeple chase, where he was the runner-up last year in the event. 

            Orlando Payton returns for Cheyney. He’ll try to defend his dual wins in the 100m and 200m from last year’s championships.

            Edinboro’s history of excellent distance running continues with Ryan Coon in the 10k and John Moneyhon and Dan Field in the steeple chase. Jared Lowry has narrowly missed provisionally qualifying in both the 5k and 10k. Senior Ed Brown is looking for a repeat victory in the discus.

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