BOSTON, Mass.--Eric Dietz set a new school record in the 500 meter run as the Keene State College track and field team competed at the Terrier Invitational at Boston University on Saturday.
Dietz' time of 1:05.95 broke a 15 year old mark of 1:06.97 previously held by KSC Hall of Famer Mark Miller '03. Dietz was not the only Owl to surpass Miller, as freshman Quentin Bazarnicki also ran the 500 in 1:06.48.
The performances of Dietz and Bazarnicki in the event qualify them both for the New England Division III championship meet and the ECAC Championship meet.
Dietz and Bazarnicki later joined up with Devin Sanford and James Stergis-Cox for a strong 3:25.34 early-season time in the 4x400 meter relay. The quad's relay time qualifies them for the ECAC Championships.
Stergis-Cox was the Owls' fastest 400 meter runner on the day Saturday, running a personal-best 50.96 seconds and missing teammate Devin Sanford's school record by just 0.25 seconds. Stergis-Cox's performance qualifies him for the event at the New England Division III championship meet.
Devin Sanford also qualified for the New England Division III championship meet in the 400 meter dash running 51.30 for his best mark of the season. Sophomore Ryan Milewski set a season best of 1:58.22 for the 800 meter run, also qualifying for the ECAC Championships.
Freshman Phil Parent setting a personal record in the 5000 meters at 15:32.69 to narrowly beat teammate junior Mark Rabasco, who also ran a personal best of 15:33.08.
Junior Ryan Brady set a season best in the mile of 4:24.97.
The Keene State women also took part at the Terrier Invite.
Sophomore Lindsey Terry ran a personal best in the 500 meters of 1:19.17. Terry's performance qualifies her for both the New England Division III and ECAC Championships. Sister Katelyn Terry ran a season best of 2:21.29 in the 800m. Terry's time qualifies her for the ECAC championship meet.
Junior Kait Wheeler set a new personal best in the mile winning her heat with a time of 5:07.65. Wheeler's time is currently 35th nationally in NCAA Division III
Sophomore Alyssa Lombardi ran a season best of 2:26.92 in the 800 meter run qualifying her for the New England Division III championships.
Senior Kaley Mientkiewicz and junior Molly Schaefer ran new personal bests in the 3000 meters 10:47.61 and 10:57.44 respectively. Mientkiewicz' time qualifies her for the New England Division III championship.
The final event for the women at Boston University this weekend was the 4,000 meter Distance Medley Relay. Keene State's team of Kait Wheeler, Lindsey Terry, Katelyn Terry, and Lauren Markoe ran a first time of the season of 12:33.46 qualifying the team for the ECAC championship meet. Their time currently ranks the KSC women's DMR team ninth nationally in NCAA Division III.
Keene State also sent a contingent to the Tufts Invitational on Saturday.
Lindsey Szuch produced her best 5000 meter race of her career placing sixth in a time of 18:44.99. Szuch's mark qualifies her for the New England Division III Championship meet and is less than one second from the ECAC standard.
Karissa Bergman threw a personal best of 13.88 meters in the weight throw to place fifth and improve her New England Division III qualifying mark.
Kelsey Sheehan ran a personal best of 2:33.34 in the women's 800 meter run.
On the men's side, Ben Keach placed second in the shot put with a throw of 14.77 meters. Keach also placed fourth in the weight throw with a throw of 13.96 meters. Rob Ficarra set a personal best in the shot put at 12.46 meters.
