LOWELL, Mass. –
Aidan Law continued a shining season, breaking his fourth individual school record, as the Keene State College outdoor track and field teams competed at the George Davis Invitational hosted by the University of Massachusetts Lowell at the Cushing Field Complex on Saturday.
Law posted a mark of 7.24 meters in his final attempt in the long jump to not only win the event, but also break Jared Hannon's outdoor school record of 7.14 meters set in 2019. It is the junior's first outdoor record after he set three new school-best marks indoors, including in the 200 meters, 400 meters, and the long jump (7.26 meters), while also qualifying for the NCAA championship in the long jump. He could be on track with his most recent mark to do the same outdoors, with the 7.24-meter jump currently tying for tenth nationally in Division III with freshman Gavin Dunn of Hiram College. Eight of the top 10 marks (including the tie for tenth) have all been set since last Saturday. A season ago, 7.28 meters was needed to qualify for the outdoor championships. This year, the current best mark in the country is 7.58 meters posted by Dontre Sinegal of McMurry University at the War Hawk Classic on April 11.
Law added a third place (of 42 competitors) finish in the 200 meters on the track, finishing in 22.27 as the Owls eye the Little East Conference championships next weekend in North Dartmouth, Mass. hosted by the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth.
Kyle Thomas was second of 42 in the 100 meters, finishing in 10.95, while
Eden Damis was the runner-up in the triple jump (13.88 meters; New England Division III qualifying mark) behind only senior Brandon Williams from the host Division I River Hawks (14.19 meters).
Jayden Baker was fourth of 21 in the shot put by posting another New England D-III qualifying mark (he had already qualified) of 14.14 meters. The KSC men also got strong performances from Ben Tetu in the mile (10:03.41) as he finished fifth of nine as the lone Division III competitor and
Sean Von Ranson (9th of 42) in the 200 meters (22.93).
Keith O'Donnell ran to a 14th-place mark of 31 competitors in the 400 meters (51.81), while
Tyler Bolaske was 15th of 29 (1:59.66) and Nicholas Terranova (16th; 2:00.29) in the 800. The 4x100 meter relay team of Law, Von Ranson,
Jonathan DeAguiar, and Thomas finished fourth of eight in 42.54.
On the women's side, KSC got a New England Division III qualifying mark from
Caroline Cooper, who was ninth of 24 in the triple jump, posting a 10.84-meter mark on her second attempt.
Drea Defreitas also qualified by placing seventh, jumping 10.92 meters. Cooper added a top half finish (9th of 18) in the 100 meters in 13.44, while
Keely Giordano was eighth of 30 in the 200 meters (26.74) and
Anna O'Reilly 12th of 35 (10:51.67) in the 3,000 meters.
"Today was a great sharpening meet to get us ready for championship season," said KSC head coach
Dan Roark. "We competed really well. We had some tough head wind in some cases, but we fought through and competed in every event. If we compete like this moving forward, we will be putting ourselves in a good situation."
Keene State has now qualified 13 athletes for the New England Division III championships overall, including five in multiple events.
Molly Lu McKellar will compete in the 100 hurdles, shot put, and heptathlon, while Thomas and Giordano have each made it in both the 100 and 200 meter races. Law will take part in the 200 meters and the triple jump as well, while
Maggie St. John and
Kallie Warner will each run the 5,000.
Jake Velazquez and
Sara Christian qualified in the 10K, while the Owls' field event qualifications currently consist of
Caden Latulippe in the pole vault, Damis and Cooper in the triple jump, and Baker in the shot put.
When the Owls trek to Massachusetts next week for the conference championships, they will do so looking to improve upon a fifth place finish on both sides.
