Feb. 6, 2011

BETHLEHEM, PA - The La Salle indoor track team continued their winter season on Saturday at the Covert Classic held at Rauch Field House on the campus of Lehigh University.

“We wanted to go up there to try and get some head-to-head matchups,” said head coach Charles Torpey. “We weren’t as concerned with times as we were with finishes but I thought that we had some real solid performances.”

The Explorers were able to follow through on their head coach’s requests and captured first place finishes in six out of the 34 events held including the men’s and women’s 5,000 meter run, the women’s mile, the women’s 60 meter dash, the men’s 4x800 meter relay and the women’s long jump.

Sophomore Alyssa Mullen (Quincy, MA/North Quincy HS) posted the best time in the women’s 5,000 meter race with a time of 18:40.92. Her teammate, senior Kathleen Boland (Drexel Hill, PA/Archbishop Pendergrast), didn’t finish far behind with a time of 18:42.86 helping the Explorer duo finish 1-2 in the standings for the event.

On the men’s side of the 5,000 meter race, junior Richard Klauber (Thomason, CT/Quinnipiac) finished more than 12 seconds quicker then the rest of the field with a time of 15:31.01.

“I was pleased with both sides of the 5k race,” Torpey added. “It was a good job on our part to be able to win both races.”

In the women’s mile, senior Colleen Boland (Drexel Hill, PA/Archbishop Pendergrast) grabbed the top finish with a time of 5:21.08.

“This was also a nice win,” said Torpey.

Freshman Saba Battles Williams ran two strong races and finished first in the women’s 60 meter dash with a time of 8.44 seconds and came in third place in the 200 meter dash with a time of 27.61 seconds.

The men’s 4x800 meter relay also grabbed a first place finish. The relay team, made up of sophomores Michael Bowden (Wrightstown, NJ/Northern Burlington HS) and Matt Finn (Wyndmoor, PA/Springfield Township HS) and graduated seniors Trevon Rainford (Elkins Park, PA/Engineering and Science) and Robert Ricketts (Philadelphia, PA/Friends Central) finished with a time of 8:19.85.

The final first place finish for the Explorers came in the women’s long jump where freshman Dominique Best posted a length of 5.49 meters. Best also notched a second place finish in the 60 meter hurdles with a time of 9.47 seconds.

“I thought this was the best performance of the day,” Torpey said. “Best is going to be a multi-event player for us and I think she will fit in well.”

Top La Salle Finishes:
 
First place 
W 5000m– Alyssa Mullen, 18:40.92
M 5000m – Richard Klauber, 15:31.01
W Mile – Collen Boland, 5:21.08
W 60m – Saba Battles Williams, 8.44
M 4x800m relay – 8:19.85
W Long Jump – Dominque Best, 5.49m

Second place 
W 5000m – Kathleen Boland, 18:42.86
W 60m Hurdles – Dominque Best, 9.47
M 500m – Justin Fowler, 1:09.20
W 1000m – Kathleen O’Brien, 3:11.23
M 3000m – Todd Cabpbell, 9:02.68
W 4x400M – 4:22.23

Third place 
W 1000m – Carolan Difore, 3:15.01
M 1000m – Robert Ricketts, 2:34.73
W 200m – Saba Battles Williams, 27.61
M 3000m – Kasey Geller, 9:06.58