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Keene State tracksters set for LEC championships
KEENE, N.H. 2/9/12 – Keene State College men’s and women’s track teams head to Gorham, Maine, on Saturday for the Little East Conference championships, which will be held for the fourth consecutive year at the University of Southern Maine’s Costello Sports Complex field house.
Southern Maine, which has the only field house in the LEC, has monopolized both men’s and women’s titles over the years. The USM women have captured 11 consecutive crowns, and the Husky men have claimed the championship eight times, including the past three years.
The Keene State men’s team won a pair of championships in 1999 and 2008, and the Owl women have finished second 11 out of the 12 years the title has been contested.
Points will be at a premium for Keene State this weekend. “We’re probably looking at third place for the women, and the guys will be in the lower third of the team standings,” said KSC Coach Peter Thomas.
Two of the LEC’s eight schools (Plymouth State and Western Conn.) don’t sponsor track teams.
Health issues will hamper the Keene State women’s team on Saturday. Expected to be a top competitor in the mile and 3K, senior Paige Mills (Keene, N.H.) is injured and might have to sit out the meet. Although she is under the weather, junior Maggie Fitter (Branford, Conn.) will be the favorite to win the 600 and 1,000. Fitter won the 800 and the mile races last year.
Freshman Carley O’Brien (Kittery, Maine) and Melanie Escalante (New Canaan, Conn.) are also poised for strong performances. O’Brien will compete in the long and triple jumps and Escalante will run the 400 and relays.
In field events, junior Janel Haggerty (Guilford, Conn.) will be looking to win her first high jump title after placing second in the event last year.
Veterans Whitney Cyr (Milford, Mass.) and Keeley Moffit (Guilford, Conn.) lead the list of Owl athletes in the throwing events. “We’ve been peaking for this weekend,” said KSC throwing coach John Napolitano. “Last year they both exceeded personal records by more than three and half feet in the weight throw. I don’t know if that’s going to happen again, but there’s the possibility.”
Sarah DiTonno (Wakefield, Mass.) and freshman Courtney Hartwell (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) will also compete in throwing events for Keene State.
Thomas predicts sophomore Ryan Widzgowski (Camden, Me.), who will run the mile, and junior Chris Plankey (Bristol, N.H.), in the 800, should score in their respective races for the Keene State men. Senior Kevin Hoyt (Newtown, N.H.) and junior Tom Paquette (Bolton, Conn.) are also expected to be among the leaders in the 3,000. The Owls will be hurt with no 5K racer at the meet.
In relays, the KSC men’s and women’s 4x800 teams have a good shot at finishing ahead of the field.
Junior Phil Elmer (Cohoes, N.Y.) and freshman Ben Keach (Newfields, N.H.) are Keene State top hopefuls in throwing events.
Thomas said the LEC championships have improved over the years. “It’s a much better meet than it used be,” he said. “We’re seeing better athletes and better performances.”
