Red Flash Continues Great Performances...............in addition to an SFU Distance Coach
University Park, Pa. - Saint Francis University ventured to Penn State for the second time in three weeks on Saturday, January 26 to partake in the renowned Penn State National Invitational. Not only did the Red Flash make their mark in numerous events once again, but perhaps the most notable episode was the incredible feat accomplished by SFU distance coach, Mircea Bogdan.
Mircea Bogdan, formerly of UTEP, ran for a meet and facility record 3:59.15, breaking the elusive four-minute mile mark. Bogdan, a former NCAA champ in the steeplechase, sprinted past the field on the final turn, becoming the second man ever to sneak under four minutes at Ashenfelter Indoor Track, and the second in the past two years at the National Invitational. Bogdan ran unattached from Saint Francis, but still made his mark amongst the onlookers in Happy Valley.
Senior thrower Kayla Herron (Cumberland, Ohio/John Glenn) took fourth overall in the women’s 20-lb. weight throw. She tossed for a mark of 61-00.00 (18.59m), which is just six inches off the NCAA provisional mark. Even though Herron fell just short of that accomplishment, she ended up setting a new school record in the event. Herron’s lob beat out Nicole Hollman’s eight-year record of 60-00.50. Junior Elise Pearce (Cherry Tree, Pa./Purchase Line) hurled for a mark of 49-07.00 (15.11m), placing her in 16th overall. Senior Jenna Brian (Niles, Ohio/John F. Kennedy) made her mark with a heave of 48-08.25 (14.84m), earning her a spot in 19th by and large.
In the women’s shot put event, senior Lisa Morse (Freedom, N.Y./Pioneer Central) was slotted in 17th overall after tossing for a 45-01.00 (13.75m) mark.
Senior Jordan Hess (McConnellsburg, Pa./McConnellsburg) set a new school record, as well, in the men’s shot put event. His pitch of 54-01.00 (16.48m) eclipsed teammate junior Ben Maderia’s (Summerhill, Pa./Forest Hills) mark of 54-00.00 last season. Maderia threw for 47-10.50 (14.59m), landing him in 21st place over.
In the men’s 35-lb. weight throw, junior Karl Dewayngaret (Red Bank, N.J./Red Bank) placed sixth overall with his lob of 58-10.25 (17.94m). Maderia earned a top ten finish, also, with a heave of 57-01.50 (17.41m), good enough for ninth place overall.
Junior Jorden Davis (Mississauga, Ontario/Loyola Catholic) surpassed yet another SFU school record in the men’s 200-meter event. Davis dashed for a clip of 21.90, beating Alonzo Coley’s 2004 pace of 21.93. Davis turned in an eighth place effort. Senior sprinter James Bush (Baltimore, Md./St. Francis Prep) finished flashes behind Davis for a tenth place finish, coming in at 21.99.
Senior John Balouris (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler) represented the Red Flash competently with a fifth place finish in the 1000K by flying for a time of 2:29.33
Notably, junior Denis Eradiri (Sofia, Bulgaria/Vladislav Gramatik 73) placed 26th in the triple jump with a mark of 45-07.75 (13.91m).
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Lewisburg, Pa. - In addition to the event at Penn State, a few members of the Red Flash indoor track and field team made the trip to Bucknell University to participate in the Bison Open.
Freshman Elizabeth DeMedal claimed a personal record in the pole vault event. DeMedal placed third overall with her PR of 10-10.00 (3.30m).
Senior sprinter Kora Hardy (Salisbury, Md./James M. Benett) ended up turning in a third place effort for the Flash in the 60-meter dash. Hardy’s time of 7.98 was just eight one-hundredths of a second off the first-place pace.
Senior harrier Shannon Kovack (Connellsville, Pa./Connellsville) turned in a fourth place time of 5:17.21 in the mile journey for Saint Francis.
In the men’s 60-meter hurdles, freshman Jacob Librizzi busted out his first winning performance of the season, putting forth a victorious effort of 8.47.
Senior Ian Butcher (Georgetown, Ontario/Christ the King) earned two top ten finishes at the Bison Open. In the 400-meter dash, Butcher booked it for a clip of 50.47, landing him in second place. In the 200-meter dash, Butcher finished in sixth place overall with a time of 23.04.
The Red Flash indoor track and field team takes to Akron, Ohio on February 1st and 2nd to do battle in the Akron Open.