LAKEWOOD, N.J. - - Competing in its their first postseason event, the Wilmington University track and field teams each placed fifth at the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Championships on Sunday, with the women earning 59 points while the men earned 33 points at the Georgian Court Track and Field Complex.
The women finished fifth out of 13 participating schools while the men's team finished fifth out of 12 competing teams on Sunday.
In their first season, the Wildcats had two All-Conference performances on Sunday. In order to be considered All-CACC, a student-athlete must finish first (First Team) or second (Second Team) in the respective event.
On the women's side, Julia Merritt finished second overall in the 3,000-meter steeplechase event, besting her previous best by over 20 seconds with a time of 12:41.49. She finished second in a field of 11 to earn Second Team All-CACC.
On the men's side, Connor Rydland finished second overall in the pole vault, clearing a height of 3.50 meters on his first attempt. He finished second in a field 10 competitors to earn Second Team All-CACC.
Merritt's second place showing also gave the team eight points, while the Wildcats also had three third place showings. Rosemary Gillam earned the team six points with a third place finish in the 800-meter race, finishing in 2:26.89. Dyonne Hicks finished third in two events, once in the 400-meter hurdles and again in the triple jump. She finished third of 16 in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1:10.41 while setting a new season's best in the triple jump with a distance of 10.85 meters to finish third out of 12 jumpers.
Hicks also finished fourth in the 100-meter hurdles for five team points while the combination of Allyson Hartwyk, Rosemary Gillam, Grace Slate, and Allyson Kelly finished fourth in the 4x400-meter relay.
On the men's side, the Wildcats had two fourth place finishes, which earned the team five points each. Brandon Cruz set a new season's best in the 10,000-meter run, crossing the line in fourth out of 18 runners with a time of 32:52.46. The 4x400-meter relay team of Miguel Suero, Kareem Lewis Ra, Tony Tuckfield, and Manuel Suero also finished fourth out of 12 teams, running in 3:32.99.
Three Wildcats finished sixth in their events, helping the team to three points each. James Keenan set a new season's best in the 200-meter sprint, running in 22.84 to finish sixth out of 35 competitors. James Kennedy bested his 3,000-meter steeplechase time by nearly 10 seconds on Sunday, running in 10:18.82 to finish sixth out of 16 runners. The 4x100 meter relay team of James Keenan, Andrew Henderson, Jayven Davis, and Kareem Lewis Ra also finished sixth for three team points.
Georgian Court when both the women's and men's team championships at home on Sunday, with the women claiming 228 points and the men taking 255.50 points. Bloomfield finished second in both the women's and men's standings as well, with the women earning 131 points and the men narrowly missing out on the team championship with 230.50 points.
Holy Family finished third on the women's side with 89 points while Nyack rounded out the top three on the men's tide with 52 points.
AGATE:
2019 CACC Track and Field Championships:
Women:
1. Georgian Court – 228 points
2. Bloomfield – 131
3. Holy Family – 89
4. Jefferosn – 74
5. Wilmington – 59
T6. Nyack – 30
T6. Felician – 30
8 – Chestnut Hill – 28
9. Caldwell – 24
10. Post - 23
11. USciences – 21
12 Goldey-Beacom – 13
13. Dominican – 9
Men:
1. Georgian Court – 255.50 points
2. Bloomfield – 230.50
3. Nyack – 52
4. Caldwell – 46.50
5. Wilmington – 33
6. Post – 32
7. Chestnut Hill – 29
8. USciences – 28
9. Goldey-Beacom – 26
10. Dominican – 18.50
11. Holy Family – 16
12. Jefferson - 13
