Friday, February 22, 2008

LANDMARK TO HOST FIRST INDOOR TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIP

MADISON, N.J. - Six institutions will be vying to make history this weekend as the Landmark Conference hosts the inaugural Landmark Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships Saturday Feb. 23 at the Garrett Sports Complex on the campus of Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, Pa.

The competition will begin with field events at 11 a.m., while the first race is scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m. Host Susquehanna will be joined by The Catholic University of America, Goucher College, Juniata College, Moravian College and the United States Merchant Marine Academy as each team tries to earn the first Landmark Indoor Track & Field Team Championships. Champions will also be crowned in 13 individual events and four relays for both the men and women.

In the women’s meet Moravian comes into the competition as the favorite after enjoying a strong season of competition thus far. Led by freshman Sydni Wisniewski (Orlando, FL/Winter Park HS) and sophomore Jessica Posimo (Philadelphia, PA/St. Basil Academy) the Greyhounds have a seed near the top of almost every event, and their depth throughout the roster will make them tough to beat.

Host Susquehanna should also factor into the championship discussion on the women’s side as they also feature a deep and balanced roster. Freshman Alycia Woodruff is the defending women’s cross country champion and gives the team a great threat in a variety of distance events while senior Ashley Moormann is likely to compete for top honors in several of the throws.

Juniata College could also be in the mix on the women’s side with junior Kelsey Buffenmyer a threat to claim titles in the jumps, and sophomore Laura Rupprecht ranked as one of the top competitors in the long sprints. Catholic, Goucher and USMMA likely lack the team depth to compete for the team title but have several athletes who could challenge for individual championships. Remy Ball gives Catholic a strong distance threat and the same can be said for Christina Fernandez-O’Toole of USMMA. Sheba Newman-Blount of Goucher is a versatile performer who will be in contention in the sprints and jumps.

The team competition on the men’s side may also come down to a battle between Moravian and Susquehanna. Both teams can earn points in a variety of events and will likely be fighting each other for position throughout the meet. Moravian is led by senior Ozzie Brown (Plymouth Meeting, PA/Plymouth Whitemarsh HS) who has a realistic chance at earning individual wins in each event he enters.

Junior Blair Maginnis (Asbury, NJ/Warren Hill Regional HS) also gives the Greyhounds a strong performer in the throws.  For Susquehanna sophomore Paul Thistle is a leading contender to earn wins in several middle distance and distance events while senior Mike Marr will be a favorite in the long jump and triple jump.

Juniata again should be in the mix for a high team finish with senior Matthew Booth providing a boost as one of the top jumpers in the meet and sophomore T.J. Breya being a factor in the hurdles. USMMA freshman David Weidler will try and produce some points for the Mariners in all three jumping events. Andrew Smith will contend for points in the distance events for Catholic while Brendan Ference of Goucher is a threat in the triple jump.

Saturday’s meet will be the final multi-team individual championship for the Landmark Conference during the winter sports season. The 2008 Landmark Outdoor Track & Field Championships will be held at Moravian in Bethlehem, Pa. April 26-27. The Landmark Conference was officially formed in December of 2005, and the eight institutions began formally competing in conference play in the fall of 2007.

Release courtesy of the Landmark Conference office.