Tribe Earns Seven IC4A Bids
RALEIGH, NC and RICHMOND, VA - Three-time All-American Ed Moran (Daytona, NJ) raced to an NCAA Regional qualification in his return to the track from a broken foot as two-time defending CAA Champion William and Mary men's track and field competed Friday evening at N. C. State's Raleigh Relays. One of the premier meets on the East Coast, the Raleigh Relays features over 50 teams, including programs out of the ACC, Big East, C-USA and CAA. In a strong performance for the Green and Gold, the Tribe raced to seven IC4A qualifications as well.In the seeded 5,000m race, three-time All-American Ed Moran (Dayton, NJ) easily bested the NCAA Regional qualification standard by clocking a sharp 14:10.40 in his first race on the track since earning All-America honors in the distance at the 2003 NCAA Outdoor Championships. Beating the Regional standard by some eight seconds, Moran captured runner-up honors in the race. Freshman Dave Mock (Johnstown, PA) timed a solid 14:33.93 for his first collegiate race at the distance, breaking the IC4A barrier. Also earning an IC4A berth at the distance was junior Sean Anastasia-Murphy (Gloucester, MA) who ran a 14:37.42. Sophomore Anthony Arena (Manassas, VA) just missed an IC4A bid by a scant two seconds with his time of 14:44.08.
The Tribe saw four IC4A qualifications in the 10,000m as 2004 IC4A 10,000m Champion Keith Bechtol (Alexandria, VA) opened his season by blazing to a personal record of 29:47.43, only two seconds shy of an NCAA provisional qualification, to claim fourth in the 10,000m seeded race and break the IC4A standard by over a minute and a half. The time bested his old career fast by some 12 seconds. Finishing just a few ticks behind, fellow sophomore Adam Tenerowicz (Blackstone, MA) also started the season by timing a new personal best, running a 30:07.04 for sixth, shattering his old mark by over half a minute to qualify for IC4As. Seniors Jon Healey (Wayne, NJ) and Adam Otstot (Richmond, VA) both qualified for IC4As by timing 31:05.96 and 31:11.74, respectively.
In Richmond, at the inaugural Fred Hardy Invitational which includes a wealth of CAA and regional rivals, senior Pat Comstock (Portsmouth, VA) led the way by winning the 5,000m in 14:48.38, a personal record and just a few second shy of an IC4A berth. Redshirt freshman Jonna Reinhardt (Williamsburg, VA) claimed runner-up honors in the race at 14:49.53 while freshman Jared Campbell (Franklin, IN) completed the Tribe sweep by claiming third at 14:49.90. Senior Kyle Pawlaczyk (Orchard Park, NY) clocked a solid 14:50.84 for fifth in the race.
Both meets conclude Saturday.