Women's Track and Field | January 9, 2020
PHILADELPHIA – With an early December meet already behind them, the La Salle men's and women's track and field teams will dive into the heart of their indoor schedule on Friday when they head to Fordham's Robert Elkin Invitational.
The Explorers bring an experienced core to the table on both sides, with seven former Atlantic 10 champions and three NCAA qualifiers back for the 2020 season. In addition, the Explorers bring a lot of momentum from the cross country season, which was highlighted by a sweep of the A-10 men's and women's team titles.
La Salle got its feet wet at the Haverford Holiday Meet back on Dec. 7, while redshirt freshman
Ibrahim Kedir made his indoor debut in the 5,000 meters at the Boston University Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener.
On the men's front, all five defending A-10 indoor champions return this season.
Anthony Hawthorne (800m, 4x800 relay),
Nathan Gillis (1,500m, 4x800 relay),
Darian Alston (triple jump),
Dennis Manyeah (high jump) and
Luke Jaciw-Zurakowsky (4x800 relay) all won gold at the A-10 indoor championship last year. Hawthorne and Manyeah also won outdoor titles in 2019 and were NCAA qualifiers.
Kedir, who redshirted the indoor season last year, figures to play a big role in 2020 and was already named A-10 Track Performer of the Week after running the 5K in a personal record of 14:17.92 in his season opener. Additionally,
Chris Lewis is back for his sophomore season after earning Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week honors three times last year. He took bronze in the 200 meters at the A-10 indoor championship and was the IC4A outdoor 100-meter dash champion a season ago.
The women's team has a pair of former A-10 champions on the roster as well in seniors
Grace Mancini and
Jessica Bryant. Mancini won gold in the 3,000 meters at last season's A-10 indoor championship. She also took the 5,000 meter crown at the outdoor championship and was an NCAA qualifier in the spring. Meanwhile, Bryant broke the school long jump record after winning the ECAC title at the end of last indoor season. She was the A-10 long jump champion at the 2018 outdoor championships as well.
Senior
Desirae Osley, junior
Makayla Eberly and sophomore
Liz Mancini are back after teaming up for a fourth place showing in the distance medley relay at the 2019 A-10 indoor championships. Grace, sophomore
El Mancini and freshman
Jerika Lufrano were all all-conference runners during the cross country season also.
In addition to the core of returners, La Salle also has 19 freshmen looking to make an impact. The Explorers will compete in seven meets over the next six weeks before the Atlantic 10 Indoor Championships Feb. 29-March 1.
