Richmond Spiders at the 2011 Penn Relays (Friday & Thursday)

(R-L) Nicol Traynor (2nd leg-4:23.2 split), Amy Van Alstine (1st leg-4:19.7 split),
Alli Mannon (4th leg- 4:34.9 split) and Jenn Ennis (3rd leg-4:40.5 split). 
The Spiders led the 1st half of the "4x1500M Championship of America"
race before finishing a strong 5th.

Friday was another great day for the Spiders at the 2011 Penn Relays:


On the heels of Andrew Benford's Championship 3K steeple win and Meaghan McGovern's College Hammer throw win our Spiders continued an excellent showing in the Penn Relays:

--Our Women's 4x1500M Relay placed 5th (17:58.28) after leading leg #1 (Van Alstine-4:19.7 split) and leg #2 (Traynor-4:23.2 split)  in the Penn Relays "Championship of America"
--X'auntasia Johnson finished 20th (11.59M) in the women's College Triple Jump...

FRIDAY EVENTS

Our women's 4x1500M Relay Splits:

Amy Van Alstine took command of the race throwing down
a 4:19.7 split to hand off in the lead.

Amy Van Alstine (SR) Finish Lynx Splits:

400M-68.5

800M-70.3 (2:18.8)

1200M-70.0 (3:28.8)

1500M-50.1 (4:19.7)--1st leg...Handed off in the lead

Nicol Traynor extended the lead for the Spiders
with her 4:23.2 split for 1500M

Nicol Traynor (JR) Finish Lynx Splits:

400M- 68.27

800M-71.40 (2:19.7)

1200M-71.9 (3:31.6)

1500M-53.1 (4:23.2)--2nd leg--Handed off in the lead

Jenn Ennis on the 3rd leg
as Boston College and Georgetown close. 
Jenn split 4:40.5 on her leg.

Jenn Ennis (SR) Finish Lynx Splits:

400M-73.7
800M-74.2 (2:27.8)
1200M-76.4 (3:44.3)
1500M-55:1 (4:40.5)--3rd leg---Handed off in 5th

Freshman, Alli Mannon anchored the Spiders to
5th place with her 4:34.9 split

Alli Mannon (Freshman) Finish Lynx Splits:
400M-69.7
800M-72.5 (2:22.2)
1200M-74.1 (3:36.2)
1500M-58.3 (4:34.9)---4th leg---finished in 5th
Total Time 17:58.28 (5th Place)  Link to Results HERE



***************************************************************
THURSDAY EVENTS

Andrew Benford, shown here winning the 2011 Fred Hardy Invitational
at Richmond's Fred Hardy Track, won the Penn Relays 3K steeple
with the 8th fastest time in the NCAA.

 A great Thursday for our Spiders at the 117th Penn Relays:

--Andrew Benford won (8:48.94) the Penn Relays Championship 3K Steeplechase
--Meaghan McGovern won (54.81M) the women's College Hammer Throw
--Monica Howard placed 4th (48.43M) in the women's College Discus Throw and set the school record
--Julie Rechel placed 4th (35:14.81) in the women's Championship 10K
--Heather Roush placed 6th (43.06M) in the women's Championship Javelin Throw
--Jon Wilson set a personal best (30:48.74) in the men's Championship 10K
--X'auntasia Johnson 23rd (5.28M) in the women's Eastern Long Jump.

Here are a few stats:
ANDREW BENFORD’s Championship 3K SC (8:48.94) win going into this weekend ranks #8 NCAA National…#6 NCAA East Region rank…#2 A-10 Conference Rank…His time was fastest of all races at Penn Relays, including the professional section known as the Olympic Development race...His time tonight was a 4 second Personal Record (PR).
LINK for Men's CHAMPIONSHIP 3KSC RESULTS

Watch the last lap of Andrew Benford's 2011 Penn Relays 3K Steeplechase win...


Watch more video of 2011 Penn Relays on flotrack.org

Andrew Benford's interview with FloTrack


Watch more video of 2011 Penn Relays on flotrack.org

Monica Howard broke her own school record
to place 6th in the College Discus Throw. 

MONICA HOWARD ‘s 4th place College Discus Throw (48.43M) going into this weekend ranks #75 NCAA National…#30 NCAA East Region ranks…#1 A-10 Conference rank…Her effort  broke her own school record by nearly 1 meter.
LINK for Women's DISCUS RESULTS

Julie Rechel, shown leading the 2010 A-10 Championship 10K race,
set a personal best tonight in the
Championship 10K of the Penn Relays.

JULIE RECHEL’s 5th place 10K (35:14.81) going into this weekend ranks #80 NCAA National...#30 NCAA East Region rank… #1 A-10 Conference rank…Her time was a 36 second PR…Recently Rechel was 2nd in the USA Collegiate National Triathlon Championships 2 weeks ago (Read More HERE)...Julie's splits to follow on Friday.
LINK for Women's CHAMPIONSHIP 10K RESULTS

Rechel's 10K splits
1-84.16
2-82.12
3-82.40
4-83.10=5:31.78 at 1600M
5-82.68
6-84.07
7-82.75
8-83.38=(5:32.6)=11:04.66 at 3200M
9-83.72
10-83.43
11-83.31
12-83.33=(5:33.7)=16:37.3 at 3 Miles
5K-17:18.9 split
13-83.28
14-84.20
15-83.43
16-83.28=(5:34.0)=22:11.3 at 4 miles
17-87.68
18-87.46
19-87.32
20-87.89=(5:50.1)=28:01.4 at 5 miles 
21-88.33
22-88.45
23-83.67
24-87.23=(5:47.5)=33:48.9 at 6 miles
25-84.16=(35.14.81 for 10K) 

Meaghan McGovern won the women's College Hammer Throw.

MEAGHAN McGOVERN’s College Hammer (54.81M) win going into this weekend ranks #86 NCAA National… #42 NCAA East Region rank… #4 A-10 Conference rank…Her throw was a PR by nearly 1 meter....
LINK for Women's COLLEGE HAMMER RESULTS

Heather Roush placed 6th in the Women's Championship Javelin Throw.

 HEATHER ROUSH’s Championship Javelin throw (43.06M) placed 6th…She set the school record earlier this season with a mark (48.08M) that still ranks in the top 25 in the NCAA National Rankings.
LINK for Women's CHAMPIONSHIP JAVELIN RESULTS 

Jon Wilson ran a PR in the 10K,
but he'll need a faster time to make it to the NCAA East Region.

 JON WILSON's 10K (30:48.74) was not what he wanted but still a PR…Jon's splits to follow Friday evening.
LINK for Men's CHAMPIONSHIP 10K RESULTS

Wilson's 10K Splits
1-72.56
2-72.18
3-70.43
4-70.19=4:44.3 at 1600M
5-73.1
6-73.3
7-71.0
8-72.03=9:33.8 at 3200M
9-73.01
10-72.05
11-73.23
12-74.32=14:26.4 at 3 Miles
5K Split-15:05.3
13-73.52
14-75.58
15-76.59
16-76.35=19:28.4 at 4 Miles
17-76.02
18-76.37
19-75.30
20-76.60= 24:32.7 at 5 Miles
21-76.75
22-75.54
23-75.36
24-74.85=29:35 at 6 Miles
25-72.19= 30:48.74 at 10K

X'auntasia Johnson fouled her first 2 jumps of the Penn Relays.

 X'AUNTASIA JOHNSON's Eastern Long Jump result was not what she wanted...with her first 2 jumps ending in fouls she needed a mark and managed a 5.28M...
LINK for EASTERN LONG JUMP RESULTS 

A 3 day total of 110,141 spectators attended the 2011 Penn Relays.

(R-L...F-B) Nicol Traynor (4:23.2 split in 4x1500M here at Penn and
16:10.37 in the 5K at Mt SAC Relays),
Alli Mannon (4:34.5 split in 4x1500M),
Jill Prentice (16:38 in the 5K at Mt SAC Relays),
Julie Rechel (5th in the 10K-35:14.81 and
2nd at the USA Collegiate Triathlon National Championships),
Jenn Ennis (4:35.49 in the 1500M at the Princeton Invite),
Amy Van Alstine (4:19.7 lead off leg of the 4x1500M and
16:09.22 for 5K at Mt SAC Relays),
Beth Kelly (36:08.68 for 10K at Mt SAC Relays) 
and Erin Lunny (17:27.47 in the 5K at the Princeton Inv.)

A large crowd (over 40,000) of specators were in
attendance on Friday to see the Spiders of Richmond
compete in the 4x1500M relay where they led the first 2 legs
before finishing 5th (RESULTS HERE)

(R-L) A little Dunkin' Donuts for Julie Rechel, Nicol Traynor, Jenn Ennis,
Amy Van Alstine, Jill Prentice and Alli Mannon.

(R-L) Beth Kelly and Erin Lunny support their teammates. 
Kelly ran 36:08 for 10K at the Mt SAC Relays
2 weeks ago (See Link)...
while Lunny ran 17:27 for 5K last weekend at Princeton (See Link)

On Thursday there was a large crowd for the
distance carnival of the 117th running of the Penn Relays.

***************************************************************
Benford Wins Steeplechase, McGovern Takes Hammer At Penn Relays

Senior Andrew Benford led wire-to-wire in taking the college steeplechase championship.

by Mike DeGeorge
UR SID

April 28, 2011

Follow Coach Taylor on Twitter at Penn Relays     Penn Relays website

PHILADELPHIA - Senior Andrew Benford crushed the field with an electrifying run to win the college men's 3,000m steeplechase, while junior Meaghan McGovern won the college women's hammer throw at the Penn Relays Thursday night.
Benford, who has established himself as one the elite steeplechase runners in the NCAA, led virtually wire-to-wire and crushed the field on the historic Franklin Field track with his championship time of 8:48.94. Benford was five seconds clear of second-place finisher Wesley Ruttoh from the University of Houston (8:53.91).
McGovern was crowned the Penn Relay's college women's hammer throw champion with a throw of 54.81m, beating out Amanda Phelps of Navy (54.42m). McGovern's winning throw came in Round 5 of the finals.

READ MORE HERE

2011 Princeton Larry Ellis Inv and JMU Inv. (Friday & Saturday, April 22-23)

Tim Quinn, shown here running the 3K at the
Fred Hardy Invitational on the University of Richmond campus, 
ran 14:08.96 in the 5K
at Princeton's Larry Ellis Invitational.

 We split our team and went to 2 meets this weekend...Princeton's Larry Ellis Invitational and JMU's Invitational...

At Princeton's Larry Ellis Invite:

Tim Quinn placed 8th in the Men's Championships 5K with a time of 14:08.96 which is a 16 second personal best (PR)…For the official results go HERE  

Tim's splits:

66.5/68.0/68.8/67.7=4:30 at 1600M

67.7/69.4/69.6/67.9=9:05 at 3200m

67.8/69.6/67.9/65.0=13:35.9 at 3 miles

32.4=14:08.96 for 5K..

Meaghan McGovern threw a season best (53.96M)
and didn't even get the chance to warm-up.

Meaghan McGovern was 3rd in the hammer throw with a throw of 53.96M (see note below)…results link: HERE... This mark is a 2011 Season best for her.


Erin Lunny ran a personal best (17:27.47)
and had knee surgery lass than 6 weeks ago.

Erin Lunny finished 8th in Heat #2 of the Women's 5K with a personal best time of 17:27.47...Results HERE  ...This is a 18 second personal best. 

Erin's splits:

84/85/84.4/86=5:39 at 1600M

84/83.5/83.2/82.6=11:12 at 3200m (10:32.4 3K split)

83.5/82.7/84.7/82.9=16:46 at 3 mile

40=17:27.47 for 5K

Jenn Ennis raced well to win heat #5 of the 1500M (4:35.49).

Jenn Ennis won heat #5 of the women’s 1500M with a time 4:35.49…This was also a personal best for her… Link to women’s 1500M...Results HERE    

Jenn’s splits:

73.4
2:26.7 (72.3)
3:40.0 (73.9)
55.2=4:35.49 for 1500M

Coach Steve Tayor on Princeton's Larry Ellis Invitational:
“It was a good night for us including a season best for Meaghan McGovern and personal bests for Tim Quinn, Jenn Ennis and Erin Lunny. Tim’s effort in the 5K will be close to getting him into the NCAA Regional Championships…Erin ran extremely well, especially considering she had surgery on her knee roughly 6 weeks ago...Jenn raced really well and was aggressive throughout the race...Meaghan's effort is a season best in the hammer throw and was a great performance especially given the adversity of arriving at the competition after warm-ups had ended.  We thought we had more time but we got a call on the way to the competition that the men finished in 25 minutes and the women's elite group was warming up.  Then...we hit every red light...She overcame the lack of warm-up and handled herself really well under much less than ideal preparation and absolutely no warm-up at all.  We are proud of their efforts,” 

Spiders Conclude Larry Ellis Invitational

Senior Tim Quinn came in eighth in the men's 5,000m race.
by KC Rismiller
UR SID

April 23, 2011
Princeton Results
 PRINCETON, N.J. - Four members of the Spiders' track & field team head back to Richmond, Va. after competing in the Larry Ellis Invitational on Friday. The meet was hosted by Princeton University and held on campus at William Weaver Stadium.
"It was a good night for us, including a season best for Meaghan and personal bests for Tim, Jenn and Erin," said men's head coach Steve Taylor. "Tim's effort in the 5,000m will be close to getting him into the NCAA Regional Championships. Erin also ran extremely well, especially considering she had surgery on her knee roughly 6 weeks ago. We are proud of their efforts."
Redshirt-senior Jenn Ennis took first-place in the fifth heat of the women's 1,500m. Her time of 4:35.49 set a personal best.
In the 5,000m, senior Erin Lunny finished eighth in her heat and set a personal best with a time of 17:27.47.
Junior Meaghan McGovern came in third in the hammer throw competition. She set a 2011 season best with her mark of 53.96m.
Senior Tim Quinn came in eighth and set a personal best in the men's 5,000m race with a time of 14:08.96.

READ MORE HERE
**************************************************************
We split the team this weekend...while a few athletes traveled to Princeton the remainder of the team went to the JMU Invitational...Here are a few photos (thanks Jason Skipper) and a recap:

(L-R) Stephanie Paradis, Kelsey McKenna, Devin Cassels, Meghan Hart
and Amanda Caporelli before things got started at the JMU Invitational.

Richmond Wins Five Events At JMU Invitational

The Spiders head to the Penn Relays next weekend.


by KC Rismiller
UR SID

April 24, 2011

HARRISONBURG, Va. - The University of Richmond track & field team walked away with five wins on Saturday afternoon after competing in Harrisonburg, Va. at the JMU Invitational.

"We had another good day, but still need to improve in several areas," said women's head coach Lori Taylor.

Sophomore Andi DeFonce took first-place in the 800m run (2:17.98), followed by freshman Alyson McGonigle in second-place (2:19.44) and sophomore Stephanie Paradis in sixth (2:25.14).

READ MORE HERE

Andi DeFonce won the 800M.



Darryl Hamilton placed 2nd in the triple jump.



Darryl Hamilton in his first college track & field  meet.



Devin Sullivan in the 3K.

 

Devin Cassels in the pole vault.

 

Coach Lawson



Amanda Lineberry in the 4x400M Relay.



Sean Livesey in the Javelin.



Alyson McGonigle, 2nd in the 800M,
shown here in the 4x400M Relay

Matt Mello in the 800M.

Lydia Morton in the 4x400M Relay after the 1500M.

Sarah Nuttycombe in the triple jump.

 

Molly Parson's after getting 5 stitches in the 3K steeple.

 

Conor Phelan in the 3K.

Richmond’s Julie Rechel 2nd in the 2011 USA Triathlon Collegiate National Championship

Julie Rechel on the awards stand after placing 2nd
in the USA Collegiate National Triathlon Championships.
Top 5 Over-all places: 1st. Kaitlin Shiver 2:10:04..2nd. Julie Rechel 2:13:47...
3rd. Marcie Nordt 2:14:28...4th. Jessica Broderick 2:15:53...5th. Erika Erickson 2:16:32
(Thank you to Scott Rechel for all Photos and Video) 

It was a busy Week for Richmond's Julie Rechel…

---She finished 2nd in the 2011 USA Triathlon Collegiate National Championship

---she was accepted to the Graduate School of her choice

---and she was honored by the University of Richmond with the "Student-Athlete Presidential Citation for Academic Achievement" for earning the Highest Cumulative GPA (3.97) for Female Student-Athletes over the Past 4 years

Read more on JULIE RECHEL HERE

TV NOTE:  CBS Sports Network will televise the 2011 USA Triathlon Collegiate National Championship, presented by Saucony, from Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Friday (April 29) starting at 10 p.m., ET.

Julie Rechel with Kaitlin Shiver...The top 2 over-all in the
2011 USA Collegiate National Triathlon Championships

To tell this story we must step back a few years…

Julie Rechel contacted us roughly 4 ½ years ago expressing her interest in attending the University of Richmond, but also with some reservation about joining our cross country team. I was very impressed while speaking with her about her interests and goals, and asked why she was reluctant to join our team. That’s when we found out she was a competitive triathlete, a sport that combines 3 disciplines of aerobic strength: swimming, biking and running.

As I recall, her fear and concern was that we would not understand her passion to succeed in the triathlon sport, which could compromise her ability to train during critical points of the year. As we talked she wanted to know if Lori and I, as the head coaches at Richmond, would be willing to work with her, understand her commitment to her sport of triathlons, and balance our requirements with her training needs. We assured her that we would and that we felt we could help her on the final event, running, and that she could develop to help our cross country team as well.

As time passed, we eventually received the great news that Julie would attend UR. Graduating as the top Physics student in Ohio and running modestly in the high 19 to 20 minute range for 5K’s in high school Julie came to Richmond on an academic scholarship. It would be an interesting and fun challenge for Lori and me and one that we looked forward to.


Julie Rechel after her warm-up swim before the championships. 

Once Julie arrived on campus we quickly realized she was special. She was easy to talk to, straight forward, honest and direct when it came to training and how she was feeling and responding to the workouts. She and Lori connected right away and then it began…Julie’s quest to become the best, not just the best in the classroom, but the best on the cross country course and in the sport of triathlons.
Julie’s improvement in running was immediate. Although we had no expectation that she would be on the track for our team since the spring is also a key time in training for the triathlon season, by the end of her freshman year she found an opening in her schedule. Her running workouts with the team were showing great promise. Alternating between running, biking and swimming she learned how to train using her heart rate and her progress was obvious to Lori and our staff. As her freshman year wound down she and Lori decided she would run her first ever 5k on the track at our conference championships in Massachusetts.

When the gun sounded to start the 2008 A-10 Championships Rechel raced without fear and if it’s possible, without thought. It was one of those rare moments in coaching where you get to witness pure competitiveness. Each lap she would glance to Lori for feedback and assurance, but otherwise she had no concern with splits, no fear of the competition…she simply, as our dear friend Dr David Martin said years ago “ran until she ran out of reasons to run”. When the race was over she posted an excellent 17:12.57 to place 6th in the 5,000M, a huge improvement over the course of a year. That race proved to her that her weakest event was now her strongest event within the triathlon. She elevated herself from being a competitive triathlete to a position of winning.

Rechel’s progress continued and along with cross country success she moved up to the 10K during the 2010 outdoor track & field season. Before the conference championships, she traveled to Tuscaloosa, AL for the 2010 USA Triathlon Collegiate National Championship and after a great swim and quick transition she moved to the bike. Unfortunately, after a short distance she suffered a flat tire on her bike, ending her chase for a top finish in the national championship event.

After unfinished business in Tuscaloosa, Rechel moved her attention to the 10K last spring. She entered the 10K and nearly won the event at the outdoor conference championships…It was her first ever 10K (25 laps) on the track and was fast enough (36:00.17) to place her on the bubble to qualify for the NCAA DI East Region, now known as the first round of the NCAA Championships. Knowing her mark was on the bubble, she and Lori decided it was time to take another crack at the 10K at the UNC/NC A&T Last Chance Meet the week before the NCAA Region. After several hours of rain delays as violent thunderstorms passed through Greensboro, she held together her mental intensity and went out that night setting a PR to improve her season best to 35:50.18 and move into position to earn a spot at the NCAA Championships in the East Region.

As summer turned to fall, Rechel competed in and won the Mid Atlantic Regional Collegiate Championships in Huddleston, VA (See Results HERE). Her win was dramatic in the sense that she won by over 8 minutes and qualified her for the 2011 National Collegiate Triathlon Championships. Additionally, her performance claimed the over-all victory and the collegiate classification.

Rechel (photo center) getting ready to enter the water for the start..

That brings us to this past weekend…April 9, 2011…Julie would be returning to Tuscaloosa, AL, where last year she was eliminated by a flat tire….

Nearly 1,600 athletes from more than 120 institutions competed with over 1,200 athletes in the Olympic-distance Collegiate National Championship event, which included a 1,500-meter swim, 40-kilometer (24.8 miles) bike and 10-kilometer (6.2 miles) run starting and finishing at the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater near the University of Alabama’s campus. Included in the loaded women’s field were two past national champions and a world champion.

The event began with the 1,500M swim. As the first part of the race concluded the top 4 out of the water and transition #1 for the women were Katherine Warren (UCSB), Michelle Mehnert (IL), Kaitlin Shiver (FL) and Jessica Broderick (CU) (Note: Warren was the 20-24 World Champion in Budapest in Sept.). Rechel came out of the water in 22:39, which would rank 6th among the top 10 finishers. With a strong transition it was time for the 40K bike.

Julie Rechel crosses the finish line in 2:13:47 to capture 2nd place
in the 2011 USA Collegiate National Triathlon Championships.

With temperatures near 90 it was obvious the heat would be a factor. As the racers made the turnaround point on the first loop of the bike, Rechel had moved up and the top-5 women were Kathrine Warren, Kaitlin Shiver, Jessica Broderick, Jessica Clay and Rechel in 5th. As they sped into and out of the 2nd loop the order remained the same with Rechel having a great effort of 1:09:14 on the bike, remaining in contention.

As they came out of the transition #2 from the bike to the 10K run, the order remained the same. Broderick, who last year finished second, was the champion in 2009. Rechel wasn't in the mix last year due to a flat tire on her bike and Shiver was the overall female champion at the 2009 Age Group Nationals in Tuscaloosa. Warren was 20-24 World Champion in Budapest in September and Clay is known as a strong competitor from West Point.

The bike and run course consisted of rolling hills and a lot of turns (19), which made it difficult for athletes to see the competitors ahead of them. It was certainly a tough course, especially in the heat and humidity, and it was clear the race champion would be determined on the final segment of the race- the 10K run. As Rechel left the transition area she pushed hard to make up time on the 4 athletes in front of her.

Rechel quickly pushed by 4th place and set her sights on third. By the mid-point of the run she had passed Jessica Clay, Jessica Broderick and Kathrine Warren to move into the 2nd place position. From there she continued to push through the finish line calling it, “the hardest race of my life”. Her finish time of 40:21 for the final 10K race segment would rank 3rd among the top 10 finishers and more importantly secure the 2nd place finish over-all position with a time of 2:13.47 for the event.

Julie getting interviewed by CBS Sports following the race.

“We are very happy for Julie and proud of her accomplishments as a student-athlete here at the University of Richmond”, said Head Coach, Lori Taylor. “She continues to impress us with everything she does. It has been a pleasure working with her and watching her growth from high school athlete to now a professional triathlete.”

If you missed the races, you can watch them on CBS Sports Network this Friday. Both the women’s and men’s races will debut separate one-hour telecasts of the 2011 USA Triathlon Collegiate National Championship on Friday, April 29 with the women's event airing at 10 p.m. ET, followed by the men's event at 11 p.m. ET. The programs re-air throughout May on the CBS Sports Network.

Julie Rechel (2nd) and Kaitlyn Shiver (1st) talk as they  warm-down in the pools.


VIDEO CLIPS

The Women's start...the 1500M open water swim.

Rechel on the 10K run...already in 2nd place.

The finish for Julie Rechel...

2nd in the USA Triathlon Collegiate National Championship

Rechel getting interviewed by CBS Sports Network...

A bit of carnage in the background

as a competitor gets carried off..

RESULTS: Women's Results HERE

1. Kaitlin Shiver            2:10:04
2. Julie Rechel           2:13:47
3. Marcie Nordt           2:14:28
4. Jessica Broderick     2:15:53
5. Erika Erickson         2:16:32
6. Hallie Blunck           2:17:28
7. Kathrine Warren      2:17:35
8. Tess Amer               2:20:24
9. Tracy Fridye            2:20:40
10. Samantha Fugate    2:20:47
11. Anna Battiata         2:21:06
12. Brittany Braden      2:21:11
13. Elizabeth Milewski 2:21:19
14. Jessica Clay           2:22:01
15. Kailand Cosgrove  2:22:09

Read more on JULIE RECHEL HERE


Thank you to Scott Rechel for all Photos and Video

2011 Mt SAC Relays--Day 3 (5K, JT & DT)-April 15



Amy Van Alstine ran 16:09.22 in the 5K at Mt SAC Relays...
Teammate Nicol Traynor was right behind her in 16:10.37.



Matt Llano (in 3rd) and Andrew Benford (in 9th)
took control of the slow pace in the men's 5K. 
Benford ran 13:55.88 to place 2nd in the heat and Llano ran 14:00.01



Mt. SAC Relays STATS for the Spiders:

Amy Van Alstine ran 16:09.22 for the 5K (Women's Open Section A-Event #219)--She set a University of Richmond 5K record...At this point in the season her mark is #16 NCAA National Ranking...#4 NCAA East Region Rank...#1 Atlantic 10 Conference Rank..

Amy’s Splits:  77.0/77.0 (2:34.0)/77.5/77.7=5:09.4 at 1600M/78.0/78.3/79.1/77.7=10:22.6 at 3200M/78.4/78.4/79.0/75.4=15:34.1 at 3 Miles/35.3=16:09.22 for 5K

Nicol Traynor ran 16:10.37 for the 5K (Women's Open Section A-Event #219)--She also broke the old University of Richmond 5K record she owned...Her time currently is a #19 NCAA National Ranking...#7 NCAA East Region Rank...#2 Atlantic 10 Conference Rank behind teammate Van Alstine.

Nicol’s splits:  77.0/77.0 (2:34.0)/77.5/77.7=5:09.4 at 1600M/78.0/78.3/79.1/77.7=10:22.6 at 3200M/78.4/78.4/79.0/75.7=15:34.8 at 3 Miles/36.3=16:10.37 for 5K

WATCH AMY and NICOL'S 5K RACE

(Women's Open 5K Section A-Event #219)

Andrew Benford ran 13:55.88 in the 5K (Men's Open Section A-Event #119)...His time currently ranks #22 NCAA National Ranking...#9 NCAA East Region Rank...#1 Atlantic 10 Conference Rank...and is a 4 second PR over 2011 indoor season.

Andrew’s Splits:  67.4/67.2/69.3/66.9=4:30.8 at 1600M/65.2/67.7/68.8/67.6 (4:30.3)=9:01.1 at 3200M/66.9/66.8/67.0/69.9 (4:23.0)=13:24.3/31.5=13:55.88 for 5K

Matt Llano ran 14:00.01 in the 5K (Men's Open Section A-Event #119)-- His time ranks #41 within the NCAA National...#17 NCAA East Region Rank...#2 Atlantic 10 Conference Rank behind teammate Llano...An 11 second PR from 2010 indoor season.

Matt’s Splits: 66.0/69.2/69.6/66.7=4:31.5 at 1600M/65.7/67.2/69.0/67.0 (4:28.9)=9:00.3 at 3200M/66.4/66.3/65.7/64.7 (4:27.7)=13:29.4/30.6=14:00.01 for 5K

WATCH ANDREW and MATT'S 5K RACE

(Men's Open 5K Section A-Event #119)

Freshman, Ryan Lee ran 14:33.61 in the 5K (Men's Open D-Event #158)-- His time currently is #199 NCAA National Ranking...#41 NCAA Freshman Rank...#106 East Region Rank...#21 NCAA East Region Freshman Rank...#6 Atlantic 10 Conference Rank behind teammates Benford, Llano and Tim Quinn...His mark aslo qualifies for the USATF Jr (under 20) National Championships in Eugene, OR.

Ryan’s splits:  69.3/69.5 (2:16.7)/68.2/69.1=4:34.2/68.3/69.0/70.471.4-9:13.5 at 3200M/71.3/71.3/72.1/71.5=13:59.7 at 3 miles/33.5=14:33.61 at 5K

WATCH RYAN'S 5K RACE

(Men's 5K Open D-Event #158)

Chris York (SO) ran 30:11.99 in the 10K (Men's Open Section 1-Event #124)--His time at this point of the season is a #91 NCAA National Ranking...#34 NCAA East Region Rank...#3 Atlantic 10 Conference Rank...It is also a 75 second PR over last outdoor season.

Chris’s splits: 74.1/2:27.0 (72.9)/3:38.6 (71.6)/4:50.1 (71.4)=1600M/6:00.5 (70.4)/7:11.1 (70.5)/8:23.1 (72.0)/9:34.5 (71.4)=3200M/10:45.9 (71.4)/11:57.8 (71.9)/13:09.3 (71.5)/14:21.6 (72.2)= 3 miles/14:57.1 (35.7)=5K/15:32.9 (35.5)/16:46.1 (73.6)/17:59.1 (72.7)/19:12.1 (72.8)= 4 miles/20:24.7 (72.6)/21:37.3 (72.5)/22:50.1 (73.5)/24:05.2 (74.4) =5 miles/25:21.2 (76.0)/26:36.5 (75.1)/27:51.4 (74.9)/29:05.5 (74.0) =6 miles/30:11.99 (66.4) for 10K

WATCH CHRIS'S 10K RACE

(Men's 10K Open Section 1-Event #124)

Freshman, Jill Prentice ran 16:39.79 in the 5K (Women's Open Section B-Event #220)--Her time currently is #89 on the NCAA National Ranking...#15 NCAA National Freshman Ranking...#42 NCAA East Region Rank...#9 NCAA East Region Freshman Rank...#4 Atlantic 10 Conference Rank behind teammates Van Alstine and Traynor...She improves her qualifying mark for the USATF Jr (under 20) National Championships in Eugene, OR with a 9 second PR over her race at William & Mary on 4/1/11

Jill’s splits:  77.3/80.3 (2:37.7)/76.9/78.9=5:13.6 at 1600M/80.6/81.5/78.1/81.0 (5:21.4)=10:35.0 at 3200M/81.1/81.5/81.9/84.7 (5:29.1 )=16:02.6 at 3Miles /37.1=16:39.79 for 5K

WATCH JILL'S 5K RACE

(Women's 5K Open Section B-Event #220)

Beth Kelly ran 36:08.68 in the 10K (Women's Open Section 2-Event #224).  Her time is currently #107 NCAA National Ranking...#38 NCAA East Region Rank...#1 Atlantic 10 Conference Rank...It is also a 10 second PR over her Stadium and Meet Records at the Colonial Relays on 4/1/11.

Beth’s splits:  90.0/85.0/87.4/87.0=5:49.6 at 1600M/87.7/88.5/84.1/84.5=11:34.5 at 3200M/84.9/85.9/86.1/85.7=17:18.1 at 3 miles (17:79.4 at 5K)/85.9/86.5/86.8/86.1=23:02.4 at 4Miles/87.0/88.0/87.3/87.9=28:53.3 at 5Miles/88.2/87.9/87.4/86.2=34:42.2/85.4=36:08.68 for 10K

WATCH BETH'S 10K RACE 

(Women's 10K Open Section 2-Event #224)

Jenn Ennis ran 10:39.93 in the 3K Steeplechase (Women's OD Section-Event #217)--Her time is currently #52 NCAA National Ranking..#29 NCAA East Region Rank...#3 Atlantic 10 Conference Rank...It is also a 20 second PR over 2010 outdoor season.

Jenn’s splits: 78.0/82.8 (2:40.8)/85.8 (4:06.0)/85.3 (5:33.6 at 1600M)/89.1 (7:01.5)/88.0 (8:29.8)/90.4 (9:59.4)/40.5=10:39.93  for 3K Steeple

WATCH JENN'S 3K Steeplechase RACE

(Women's Olympic Development 3K Steeplechase-Event #217)

Heather Roush came in 17th in the javelin throw competition with a mark of 42.40m and 24th in the discus with a mark of 43.05m.


Chris York teaching Luke the Zoolander "Magnum" look...
Go HERE to see the master--Zoolander himself. 
...Encouragement by Ryan Lee photography.



Randy's Donut shop near LAX Airport
has made coutless appearences in movies of the years
including Iron Man 2.



LA from 20,000 feet...Santa Monica Beach.



South LA from 20,000 feet...


Track & Field Shines At Mt. SAC Relays

The Spiders are also competing in the Ram Invitational this weekend.

By KC Rismiller
UR SID
WALNUT, Calif. - Seven members of the Richmond track & field team travel back to Virginia today following an impressive showing at the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, Calif. All of the distance runners set personal bests, while Amy Van Alstine and Nicol Traynor broke the school record in the 5,000m.
"Our athletes ran well," said men's head coach Steve Taylor. "We've known from their workouts and their progression over the past two years that they are capable of running at this level and beyond. I have no doubt they can run even faster.
"These marks put several of our athletes in great position for qualifying for the first round of the NCAA Championships. The NCAA East Region Championships bring together the top 48 athletes in each event, so we have several that have firm marks and a few that are currently on the bubble."

...READ MORE HERE

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Jill Prentice Named A-10 Track & Field Rookie Of The Week

Prentice set a personal record in the 5,000m.

by KC Rismiller
UR SID

April 20, 2011


UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND - The Atlantic 10 Conference announced Richmond's Jill Prentice as the Women's Rookie of the Week following her performance this weekend at the prestigious Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, Calif.
The standout freshman placed 17th out of 35 runners and set a personal record in the 5,000m with a time of 16:39.79. Her time ranks 15th among freshmen in the NCAA and is fourth in the Atlantic 10 overall.

READ MORE HERE