Men's Track Takes on Tough Competition at Youngstown State

(YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio) - Friday afternoon the Carnegie Mellon University men's indoor track and field traveled to Youngstown State University to compete in a pool of Division I, II and III schools at the Youngstown State Invitational.

Senior thrower Zachary Erra-Hernandez (Las Cruces, N.M./Onate) continued to be successful placing 17th in the weight throw and placed the same in the shot put with a throw of 14.22 meters.  In a field of Division I and II competitors, Erra-Hernandez heaved the weight 14.78 meters for a new season best.

Fellow thrower, junior Gino Pilato (Greensburg, Pa./Hempfield Area) took 18th in the shot put with a toss of 14.12 meters.

Also in the field, sophomore Brandon Hoane (Mount Kisco, N.Y./Horace Greeley) grabbed a 12th place finish in the triple jump leaping 12.10 meters. 

Junior Thomas Vandenberg (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Mamaroneck), the top scorer for the Tartans, placed sixth in the 800-meter run finishing in 1:54.03.  

The Tartans captured a three-way tie for clearing 4.0 meters in the pole vault.  Sophomore Victor Yan (Irvington, N.Y./Irvington) was the first to clear the bar giving him a 10th place finish.  Junior Mike McDermott (Seekonk, Mass./La Salle Academy) took 13th and freshman Kyle Weaver grabbed 16th.

Other top 20 finishers were freshman Andrew Chang (Fairfax, Va./W.T. Woodson) who crossed the line in the 60-meter hurdles in 8.69 seconds for 12th place. 

In the long jump, sophomore Patrick Chang (Millbrae, Calif./Mills), junior Shane Copelin (New orleans, La./Isidore Newman), and freshman Brandon Au (Fremont, Calif./Mission San Jose) took 17th, 18th, and 19th, respectively.

The Tartans will be back in action again on Saturday, February 1 when the team travels to Case Western Reserve University for the Sixth Annual Battle of the Obelisk.