Sophomore, Meaghan McGovern competed in the Hammer Throw today in the East Region or better known as the 1st round of the NCAA Championships. The temperatures soared into the 90's as athletes from 195 DI colleges and universities arrived for the 2nd day of the championships.... Photos by Dan Petty...
The Women's Hammer Throw was the 1st event on Friday and Meaghan was the 1st thrower of the competition. She has become consistent and has improved her technique this year...
"We are proud of Meaghan", said Head Women's Coach Lori Taylor. "We know she wanted to throw better and know she will take this experience and opportunity and use it as motivation in her training in the years to come. Meaghan was 1 of only 12 underclassmen in an event typically dominated by juniors and seniors. We look forward to her continuing to develop and to her throwing further."
The women's steeplechase was moved to Saturday morning at 10:10 a.m.
By Mike DeGeorge Richmond SID
May 28, 2010
GREENSBORO, N.C. - Sophomore Meaghan McGovern finished 44th in the hammer throw Friday at the NCAA East Region Championship in Greensboro, N.C. But Dana Guglielmo's appearance in the 3,000m steeplechase was postponed until Saturday night by severe weather.
McGovern posted a throw of 48.25m, which was good for 44th overall. Her progression was 47.67m, 47.47m and 48.25m for her three attempts in flight No. 1. But severe thunderstorms moved into the Greensboro area Friday night, forcing the postponement of the steeplechase event until Saturday morning. Guglielmo is heat No. 3 of the steeple, which is set to begin at 10:10 a.m.
Also set for late Saturday night is the women's 5,000m with junior Amy Van Alstine.
Below you will find additional photos (provided by Michael Scott) from the NCAA Championships East Semifinal Men's and Women's 10K races where Matt Llano palced 4th and Julie Rechel placed 33rd...Llano will compete in the NCAA 10K Final in Eugene, Oregon. For race details go HERE.
Meaghan McGovern (women's hammer) and Dana Guglielmo (women's 3K steeple) compete today (Friday)...
Junior, Julie Rechel in the 10K...
Matt Llano on his way to 4th place in the men's 10K...
Tonight was a great night for the Richmond track & field program as Junior, Matt Llano advanced to the NCAA Championship 1oK Final after placing 4th in the NCAA National Championships East Semi-Final and Junior, Julie Rechel placed 33rd in the women's 10K.
We knew it was going to be exceptional when on the way to the races, Luke said to Matt and Julie, "PAIN IS GOOD".
(MORE TOMORROW....Here are some photos taken by Dan Petty...)
48 athletes toed the starting line in the 10K. Junior, Matt Llano got into position early and shadowed the leaders setting the pace. Tonight was about racing people. Finish times did not matter...only the top 12 men across the finish line at the end of the 25 lap race advanced to the NCAA Championship Final in Eugene, OR in 2 weeks. Early on there was a huge pack of 25 runners...but slowly they dropped off the lead pack 1-by-1.
By 2 miles there were still 20 athletes in the lead pack but some of the other top seeds were showing signs of fatigue while Llano looked like he was cruising.
At 5K (14:55) the pack was still 18 strong and the intense humidity was claiming victims as athletes tried to grab water to cool themselves...
With 2 miles to go the pack was down to 14...and with 1 mile to go Chelenga was leading and there were only 8 left in the lead chase pack. With 2 laps to go Llano dropped the hammer covering the final 800M in 2:13. That was what he needed to secure 4thplace and a spot at the NCAA Championship Final in Eugene, OR on June 10th.
Llano's 10K splits: 74.6/71.1/70.7/70.6=4:47.2 at 1 mile 70.8/69.6/69.7/71.9=9:29.3 at 2 mile 73.8/72.1/72.2/72.2=14:19.9 at 3 miles ---------------14:55.4 at 5K 71.5/72.6/73.3/71.8=19:10.1 at 4 miles 73.1/73.3/72.2/72.2=24:01.2 at 5 miles 71.8/72.2/70.2/66.2=28:42.1 at 6 miles last 400M in 66.9= 29:48.54 for 10K to place 4th (His 2nd 5K was 14:53.1)
Junior, Julie Rechel has gained tremendous confidence throughout the spring season. She came into tonight's race with the 48th best performance and ended the season by placing 33rd in the NCAA National Championships East Semi-Final.
Head Women's Coach, Lori Taylor shouted encouragement to Rechel and Llano...
Rechel passing Auburn's Stephanie Barnes on her way to running 36:49.56...
Matt Llano finished fourth in the 10k, while Julie Rechel was 33rd in the women's 10k.
by Mike DeGeorge Richmond SID
GREENSBORO, N.C. - Junior Matt Llano placed fourth overall in the 10,000m Thursday night as action began at the 2010 NCAA East Regional in Greensboro, N.C. The fourth-place finish clinched Llano a spot in the NCAA National Championship.
Llano was clocked in a time of 29:48.54 and cruised through the extremely humid conditions late Thursday night in Greensboro. Of the field of 48 men's runners, only 31 finished the full 10,000m.
"Matt was great tonight in very tough conditions," said head men's coach Steve Taylor. "He looked easy compared to most everyone. There were 48 starters in the men's race and only 31 finishers. That tells a lot about the conditions."
The top 12 finishers in each event this weekend earn berths to the NCAA National Championship, set for June 9-12 in Eugene, Ore. Liberty's Sam Chelanga won the men's 10,000m in a time of 29:27.20.
For the women, junior Julie Rechel finished 33rd in the women's 10,000m in a time of 36:49.56. The women battled the humid conditions as well as five of the 48 runners failed to finish.
For Richmond on Friday, sophomore Meaghan McGovern competes in the hammer throw at approximately 11 a.m., with freshman Dana Guglielmo running the 3,000m steeplechase at 9:15 p.m.
Stay tuned to RichmondSpiders.com for coverage throughout the weekend.
Junior, Julie Rechel doing drills following her prerace workout on Wednesday...She races the Women's 10K tomorrow night at 9:15PM...There is only 1 heat of the 10K for women and men with 48 competitors on the starting line.
Junior, Matt Llano putting on his spikes for strides following his prerace workout. He also races tomorrow night...His race begins at 8:30PM.
Sophomore, Meaghan McGovern getting in a few throws of the hammer today. She competes at 11:00AM on Friday in flight #1 of the event.
Rechel and Freshman, Dana Guglielmo after their workout. Guglielmo competes in the 3K steeplechase on Friday evening at 9:10PM...
McGovern and Coach Lawson following hammer practice...
Strides for Llano...
Junior, Amy Van Alstine will race the 5K on Saturday at 8:45PM...She and McGovern are enjoying dinner at Asiago Italian Restaurant...
along with Rechel and Guglielmo.
The Curry Chicken at Asiago's was exceptional.
Fear the Spider...Arachnophobia is an inordinate fear of spiders. This phobia can often be triggered by the thought of or sometimes even a picture of a spider. A serious case of arachnophobia is much different than someone who doesn't like spiders. Many people who are afraid of spiders have feelings of panic entering into a situation where spiders are present.
Co-Founded the Collegiate Running Association in 2013 to offer Collegiate National Championship events in Road, Mountain & Trail Running with Prize Money reserved specifically for college students. Also serve as the Head Track & Field and Cross Country coach for the University of Richmond in Richmond, Virginia...a highly competitive private University competing in NCAA Division I sports...and I'm a country boy to my soul.
"In Discipline the blood boils, the brain turns to marble and muscles to steel. When wrapped in the scalding arms of the Discipline I can't rip my eyes away from the sun. I feel no pain. If you know what I mean, then you know what I mean." -Henry Rollins
"Why should I practice running slow? I already know how to run slow. I want to learn to run fast." -Emil Zatopek
"Your training partner's name is pain. You start out trying to ignore him. Can't do it. You attempt to reason with him. No way. You try to strike a bargain. Hah. You plead. You say "Please stop, please go away. I promise never ever to do this again if you just leave me alone." But he won't. Pain only climbs off if you do. Then you're beaten. " -Scott Martin
"There is a time when most athletes reach a crossroads in their career. Even the most talented juniors need to realize that success at the highest level requires a new set of parameters in training and attitude and that without devotion - bordering on obsession - the path desired by most remains impossible to find." -Steve Cram
The Women's Hammer Throw was the 1st event on Friday and Meaghan was the 1st thrower of the competition. She has become consistent and has improved her technique this year...
McGovern posted a throw of 48.25m, which was good for 44th overall. Her progression was 47.67m, 47.47m and 48.25m for her three attempts in flight No. 1.
But severe thunderstorms moved into the Greensboro area Friday night, forcing the postponement of the steeplechase event until Saturday morning. Guglielmo is heat No. 3 of the steeple, which is set to begin at 10:10 a.m.
