Four First-Place Finishes Lead Tartans At Al Hall Freedom Games

(EDINBORO, Pa.) - The Carnegie Mellon University men's track and field team began the indoor season at the Al Hall Freedom Games hosted by Edinboro University on Saturday, January 16. Four first-place finishes led the Tartans on the day.

The Tartans had four of the top seven finishers in the 800-meter run with sophomore Evan Larrick (Westerville, Ohio/Westerville North) crossing in first place in 1:59.01. Freshman Isaac Mills (Fairfax, Va./Oakton) was third in 2:00.00, junior Owen Norley (Chagrin Falls, Ohio/Kenston) crossed fifth in 2:01.38 and freshman Ian Allen (Chatham, N.Y./Chatham) was seventh in 2:01.57.

The 3,000-meter run was controlled by the Tartans who finished first through fifth. Junior Ryan Archer (Pittsburgh, Pa./Vincentian Academy) led the brigade in 8:47.86. Graduate student Josh Antonson (Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley) was second in 8:51.00, while senior Brian Bollens (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) was third in 8:55.75.

The 4x400-meter relay was won by the Tartans when senior Marc-Daniel Julien (Skokie, Ill./Niles West), Larrick, junior Nathan Willis (Philadelphia, Pa./Friends' Central School) and Norley crossed in 3:28.94.

Junior Curtis Watro (Audubon, Pa./Methacton) ran the mile run in 4:23.39 to place seventh, as freshman Jared Moore (Beaver Dams, N.Y./Corning-Painted Post) was 10th in 4:35.32.

Freshman Kyle Lee (Menlo Park, Calif./Lick-Wilmerding) crossed the finish line of the 400-meter dash in seventh place in 52.20, while fellow freshman Christopher Bayley (Pleasanton, Calif./Amador Valley) was 11th in 52.54.

Junior Matthew Sheh (Denver, Colo./Cherry Creek) ran in two sprint events, finishing ninth in the 60-meter hurdles in 9.09 and 19th in the 60-meter dash in 7.46.

Freshman Rai Walters (Westlake, Ohio/St. Ignatius) picked up a win in his collegiate debut when he leapt 6.80 meters in the long jump. Sophomore Eloy Fernandez (San Jose, Calif./Lynbrook) placed sixth in the triple jump with a mark of 12.80 meters.

Sophomore Cameron Smith (Darien, Conn./Darien) equaled his career-best in the high jump when he cleared 1.80 meters to finish seventh.

In the throwing events, freshman Kenny Sladick (Berea, Ohio/Berea-Midpark) was 10th in the shot put with a mark of 12.89 meters, as sophomore David Trzcinski (Powell, Ohio/Olentangy Liberty) was 11th with a mark of 12.80 meters. Sophomore Jacob Schofel (Livingston, N.J./Livingston) tossed the weight throw 14.27 meters to finish ninth.

The Tartans will compete again on Saturday, January 23 at the Denison Univeristy Lid Lifter and the Spire Institute North Coacst Indoor Track and Field Open.