The American University track team split up this past weekend to compete at the Bucknell Outdoor Classic on Friday night and the University of Virginia Invitational on Saturday.
The 5000m race was the most talked about event at Friday's meet as senior Brendan Fennell went head to head with Matt Froys, the Patriot League Indoor 5000m Champion of Bucknell. Both men ran well, but Fennell proved to be stronger in the end, outrunning Froys by more than five seconds. The Eagle runner's time of 14:02.53 not only qualifies Fennell for the NCAA East Regional, but also replaces his previously set school record for the 5000ma
Fennell wasn't the only Regional qualifier at the meet. Teammate Awit Yohannes ran a time of 14:09.65 in the 5000m, running the third-fastest time in school history and beating his own personal best by more than 10 seconds.
Fennel and Yohannes' Regional qualifying times, plus previous times gained by Dustin Emrani in the 800m and Carlos Jamieson in the 1500m, bring the total number of Eagle Regional qualifiers to four thus far in the season.
The Eagle women ran strong as well this Friday in the 5000m. Cathleen Ford, Greta Wicklund and Megan Mason went 1-2-3, each running a personal best. Ford ran a time of 17:55.41 for first, beating her previous personal best by 20 seconds. Wicklund, running the 5k for the first time, ran 18:05.33 for second. Steps behind Wicklund was Mason for third, running a 18:09.97, making it her personal best by more than 12 seconds.
Saturday's performance at the UVA invitational was just as impressive as Fridays. Several season-best times were accomplished on both the men's and woman's sides.
Senior Alex Caudana had his first time performance in the 800m, running a time of 1:54.41 for sixth-place. Freshman Jordan Ciccarello came off strong with a time of 1:58.46, making it his new personal best for the race.
On the women's side of the 800m Mercedes Ball ran 2:19.01 for 13th, and improved her lifetime best. Teammate Kate Lilley was seconds behind her in 17th with a time of in 2:22.05, making it the ninth-fastest time in school history. Both senior Ashley Dellinger and freshman Danielle Loughrey came in moments behind with times of 2:24.44 for Dellinger and a season-best time of 2:24.85 for Loughrey.
Notable performances in the 400m by both senior Dustin Emrani who ran a 49.16 for third and Dan King who ran his fastest time of the season, 50.55.
Next week American sends a limited number of athletes to the Larry Ellis Invite in Princeton, NJ, as the rest of the team prepares for the upcoming Penn Relays in two weeks.
