READING, Pa. – The Messiah men's track and field team competed in the Alvernia Last Chance Qualifier meet in Reading, Pa., on Saturday afternoon. Like the women's team, the meet was filled with new personal best times and new qualifiers for the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Championship Meet to be held later this week (May 6-8) in Chester, Pa. The Falcons recorded a total of five new personal best times, earning two new qualifiers for the MAC Championship Meet.
Of the two new qualifiers,
Ryan Thurber was one of them, competing in the 800. Thurber crossed the line in 2:00.66, a season-best mark. The Falcons were well-represented in the 800, placing several new personal-best times. Following Thurber was
Chad Long, recording a personal-best time of 2:03.85, who was followed by
Tyler McNair, also notching a personal-best time (2:04.10).
Jack Daudt and
Isaac Covert were involved in the personal-best parade, crossing in 2:04.38 and 2:04.73, respectively.
Jonathan Wyrick was the other new MAC-qualifier, recording a new qualifying time in the 3000 steeplechase (10:47.40).
Jackson Hazen also turned in a solid time in the same event, recording a time of 11:50.03.
The Falcons had a strong showing in the 5000.
Derek Guissanie recorded a new personal-best time (17:15.90), while Ryan McAlister contributed an impressive performance in his first race back from injury.
Xander Smith placed behind Guissanie, crossing the line in 17:20.64.
Isaac Covert was the lone Messiah runner in the 1500, placing second out of seven runners with a time of 4:19.45.
Josiah Zehr achieved a new season-best mark in the pole vault, clearing the bar at an impressive height of 4.37 meters. Messiah placed strong finishes in several other field events, including
Noah Keitel in the triple jump (12.73),
Gabriel Tiday in the discus (23.62),
Christian Pilawski in the javelin (43.13), and
Ezra Lee in the long jump (5.18).
Messiah will be back in action on Thursday, May 6, when they travel to Chester, Pa. to compete in the MAC Championship Meet. The conference championship is a three-day event (May 6-8).
