NORTHAMPTON, MASS. - 12/3/11 - Competing in his first collegiate meet, KSC freshman Michael Pianka (Springfield, VT), narrowly missed qualifying for the NCAA championships with his jump of 6'-6 ¾" at the Smith college invitational on Saturday afternoon.

"He's just off making it to nationals with a jump like that," said KSC head coach Pete Thomas, "It's an excellent start to the season and to qualify to ECACs in your first meet is something special."

Leading the way for the women's team, sophomore Emily LaPlant (Hudson, N.H.) ran the 600 meter event in 1:45.54, qualifying her for Division-III New England Championships.

Other top performances by first-year athletes, freshman Carley O'Brien (Kittery, Maine) came in fourth place in the long jump with a jump of 16'-4", while classmate Lauren Medeiros (Middletown, Conn.) finished in first place in the 1,000 meter run with a time of 3:30.59.

The men's 4x200 meter relay team captured first place in their event, with a combined time of 1:37.85. Senior Sarbjit Singh (Lebanon, N.H.), freshman Tim Kehoe (Perkinsville, VT), and junior Doug Dombrowik (Fitzwilliam, N.H.) join Pianka on the relay team.

Singh also had a good day in the long jump event, coming in second place with a jump of 19'-11 ½", while Dombrowik finished second in the triple jump, with a leap of 40'-11".

Also in the field events, freshman  Ben Keach (Newfields, N.H.) placed third in the shot put, throwing 43'-1 ¾".

The Keene State College men's and women's track and field team will return to action next Saturday at Brandeis University.

(Courtesy Kevin Butler)