Tech Track & Field Lays Down Numerous National Marks at BU Valentine Invitational
February 14-15, 2020
MIT was hoping to take advantage of the fast oval at Boston University this weekend, the host of the David Hemery Valentine Invitational. This is just two weeks prior to the New England Division III Championship, which means the last opportunity to get a fast 3K or 5K performance unless you want to risk being fatigued going into the championship. This is also the final opportunity prior to the NCAA Division III Championship, for most New England schools to have a shot at the Boston University track, which is arguably the fastest track in the country.
The format has the women competing on Friday, with the exception of the DMR, and the men competing on Saturday, also with the exception of the DMR. MIT did not bring too many athletes, only nine women and 16 men, as most of their athletes were either competing back at MIT in the Gordon Kelly Invitational, or resting.
The top event for the women on Friday was the Mile Run. Marissa McPhillips '20 was first up for MIT. She got out well in the fast section, splitting 72 for the first quarter. Unfortunately she was caught up in a race that slowed, causing a lot of contact and slowing her momentum. Although she lost a lot due to wasted energy, she still ran a season best 4:59.80. Margaret Trautner '20 has been working at moving up to the Mile since last year. The transition from the 800 has been challenging the senior. However, that issue is in her past has she ran an excellent race to PR in 4:57.60. Her 72 final 400 shows there is more there. Katie Bacher '20, still returning from injury, showed she is ready to get back to national form. Bacher ran a well-paced 5:06.88.
In the 5K, Jenna Melanson '20 was out to put down a solid national qualifying performance. She was in the perfect section at just the right pace to run around 17:00. She was 5:29 through 1600 and was on pace for 11:00 at 3200 meters, when she developed a side stitch that caused her to panic. Unfortunately she did not finish the race.
Sarah Ishamuddin '21 ran a strong 400, splitting 28.3 en route to a 60.22 season best.
On day two, the quartet of Trautner, Ishamuddin, Williams and McPhillips were going for the DMR, attempting to qualify for the NCAA Championship. Typically, with the nine second banked-track penalty for this distance, it take a sub 11:45 performance to feel good about that time making it. Trautner, a 2:12 800 runner, came through the 800 in 2:23, which was too slow and showed her reluctance to run the race as a time trial. She finished strong, handing off with a 3:33.6 1200 leg. Ishamuddin had a solid handoff, competed very well and had her best split ever of 59.0. Williams, a few teams back when she received the baton was too focused on the runner in front of her instead of pushing the second and third laps. Although she finished well, her 2:14.9 split is slower than the junior is capable of running. McPhillips went after the team in front of her, possibly a little too aggressively, as she split 70 for the first 400. Her pace slowed, but she stayed very competitive through splits of 2:24 and 3:40, finishing in 4:56.5 for a total of 11:44.11. This group clearly can run faster, and may need to if they wish to guarantee a ticket to Nationals.
The men began competition at 9:00 in the morning on day two with the slower sections of the 3K and 5K. Lowell Hensgen '23 was first up for the Engineers. Although the freshman made a few tactical errors, particularly sitting on the rail without protecting his outside, he moved to the front at about the 3K mark. He negative split his race, splitting 4:52, 4:50 and 4:41, finishing with a 33 for a 14:56.28 performance. Also in that section, Steven Goldy '20 made his 5K season debut after a long rehab for spinal issues. The senior ran a tough race, hanging tough to run 15:13.82. In the next section, Finn Jacobson-Schulte '21 returned to last Springs form as her battle his way to a 15:14.57. He lost some focus in the last third of the race, but never gave up, and refocused when he needed to.
Sam Acquaviva '23 represented MIT in the 3K. The freshman has a tendency to be conservative at the start and likes to stay on the rail. This combination kept him in the back of the pack. Unfortunately, the slow pace of 69-70 400's meant someone was going to put the hammer down. Once it happened, Acquaviva was too far back to do anything about it. He raced his group, but was only able to run 8:40.24.
Kenneth Wei '23 continued his excellent freshman year. Against outstanding competition, Wei qualified for the finals in the 60HH with an 8.14. In the finals, he ran a very competitive 8.18 to place a strong fifth in the invitational event. Wei competed in the Triple Jump as well, attempting to make it to the NCAA Championship in three events--having already qualified in the 60HH and Long Jump. Wei struggled on his first two attempts, but unloaded a 48-2 on his third attempt to put him in a very solid position to make Nationals.
Yorai Shaoul '21 and Alec Reduker '20 passed on their primary events to focus on getting their Long Jump to national standards. While both improved to 23-2 3/4, it is doubtful that will hold up for the NCAA Championship.
Chris Washington '20 looked outstanding in the High Jump. Unfortunately he was taking three attempts at every height. After clearing a season best 6-8 3/4, he jumped at 6-10. Fatigue started to set in, and the senior, although clearly over the height on his second attempt, displaced the bar. His successful height clearance could get him to Nationals, but it is certainly a maybe at best.
Back on the track, Nick Duchatellier '22 ran a PR in the 400 of 49.44. Although he clearly tightened up in the final 100, he held on well. In an earlier section, Benton Wilson '21 ran 49.50 despite not being aggressive enough in the third 100, having to cut his momentum in the process. Nisarg Dharia ran a season best 51.16.
Wilson returned later in the 200, this time running an excellent race. Other than a poor start, he ran strong the entire way, winning his section in 21.93.
Aiden Foucault-Etheridge '22, still coming back from hamstring issues, ran a poor strategical race in the 800, getting boxed in due to sitting on the rail, but he still improved to 1:56.81.
The surprise of the day, good and bad, came in the 1000. Reed Foster '22, having two outstanding races in back to back weeks, was on his way to another one. Coming through the 800 in 1:58, he suddenly gave up, jogging in with a 2:35.17. Two sections later, Ryan Wilson '22, was debuting in his first ever track race for MIT. The sophomore has competed in two partial cross country season, but missed all of track and field last year due to injury, and likewise, has missed all of this season thus far. After only two workouts, Wilson competed for the win, splitting 1:58 and then hammering a 28 final 200 to win his section in 2:26.61, the third fastest all-time for MIT, and a new Rookie Record.
Last on the schedule of day two were the seeded sections of the 3K and 5K. Up in the 3K was Matthew Kearney '22. Last year, as a freshman, Kearney came off a temperature of 103 the day before, to set the freshman 3K record of 8:28.13. This year, Kearney missed the entire indoor season until two weeks ago. With minimum mileage and only two workouts, the sophomore went after his section. Other than the unfortunate first 400 in 65, Kearney ran a near flawless race. His obvious lack of fitness should not be a factor in another month, but for now he fell off slightly at the end, but still ran an excellent 8:28.82.
The final performance of the night was turned in by Andrew Mah '22. Put in a section where he was the sixth seed, the fear was that no one would take the race out. Never fear! A runner from Temple ran 70's like a metronome. Mah guarded his outside to perfection, maintaining his position in second place. When the pace slowed to 71 at 4K, Mah went to the lead, laying down a 68, the 67 and finally a 33 final 200 for a PR of 14:29.43. This puts him number four all-time for MIT indoors. It is also likely to be a time that qualifies him for Nationals.
Next week, most of the MIT team will rest up for the New England Division III Championship. However, a few will try to improve their seed in the respective events at the Springfield College Invitational next weekend.
MIT's Current Individual National Ranking (top 25)
200 Benton Wilson (19)
800 Margaret Trautner (6), Katie Williams (24)
Mile Margaret Trautner (8), Marissa McPhillips (16)
3K Katie Collins (10), Jenna Melanson (16)
5K Katie Collins (6), Andrew Mah (14)
60HH Kenneth Wei (7)
4x400 MIT Men (14)
DMR MIT Women (2)
HJ Alec Reduker (5), Chris Washington (12), Liana Reilly (13), Margaret Redfield (16)
PV Bobby Upton (12), Anais Marenco (20), Jacqueline Ahrens (23)
LJ Kenneth Wei (7), Alec Reduker (14), Yorai Shaoul (15)
TJ Alec Reduker (4), Yorai Shaoul (5), Kenneth Wei (7)
WT Ryan Nall (20), Albert Menio (25)
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