NORTHAMPTON, MASS. 1/25/14- Both Keene State College men's and women's track teams finished third at the Benyon Invitational at Smith College on Saturday.
The Keene State men finished the competition with 110 points while the Owl women tallied 103 points. WPI won the men's championships with 232 points. Merrimack won the women's title with 176.50 points.
For the second week in a row, Keene State excelled in field events. On the men's side, junior Ben Keach (Newfields, N.H.) won the shot put (14.94m) and placed fourth (14.32m) in the weight throw. Freshman Ryan Elliot (Essex, Vt.) was also second (1.63m) in the high jump.
In the women's competition, senior Sarah DiTonno (Wakefield, Mass.) won the shot (11.61m) and placed second (12.66m) in the weight throw. Freshman Karissa Bergman (Littleton, N.H.) also had a good day in the circle, finishing second (11.17m) in the shot and third (12.03m) in the weight throw.
On the track, senior Jay Borden (Keene, N.H.) won the 600-meter race with a time of 1:27.99. Sophomore Devin Sanford (Holliston, Mass.) was second (51.79) in the 400 and freshman Patrick Chabot (Derry, N.H.) took second (4:32.42) in the mile.
The foursome of junior Roger Wilkie (Little Compton, R.I.), sophomore Eric Dietz (Prospect, Conn.), Borden and Sanford raced to a first-place finish (3:40.88) in the 4x400 relay.
Sophomore Lauren Markoe (Lagrangeville, N.Y.) won the 600 with a time of 1:39.39. Junior Kait Wheeler (Exeter, N.H.) was third (1:44.74).
Freshman Carli Davis (Chester, N.H.) placed third in the 800 (2:32.88).
The team of sophomore Allison Brady (Weymouth, Mass.) freshmen twin sisters Katelyn Terry (Strafford, N.H.) and Lindsey Terry (Strafford, N.H.) and Markoe placed second in the 4x400 relay (4:14.06).
Several KSC runners also competed this weekend at the John Thomas Terrier Invitational at Boston University. Although the Owls didn't place high in the standings, they did qualify for several post-season meets and set personal best times.
Senior Ryan Widzgowski (Camden, Maine) finished second in his mile heat with a time of4:12.44. Sophomore Samantha Goldsmith (Derry, N.H.) had a time of 10:30.77 while Markoe ran a time of 2:18.85 in the 800. All three qualified for the ECAC Division III Championships.
Meanwhile in the men's 800 race, senior Chris Plankey (Bristol, N.H.) with a time of 1:56.60 and freshman Ryan Milewski (Ashland, Mass.) with a time of 1:58.57, both qualified for the New England Division III Championship. Sophomore Hayden Patterson (Dover, N.H.) also qualified for the Championship with his time of 8:44.97 in the 3,000-meter race.
Wheeler and Katelyn Terry also set personal best times at the Terrier Invitational. Wheeler set her mark (5:09.18) in the mile while Terry's time of 2:22.28 in the 800 was her top effort in the event.
Keene State will be at the Dartmouth Invitational next Saturday.
