SPORTS

 

FAIRFAX, Va. – The men’s track and field team showed their depth and a glimpse at the future with an impressive final day of competition at the Atlantic 10 Outdoor Championship Sunday at George Mason Stadium.

“We had about as good of a meet as could possibly expect,” said Director of Men’s Track & Field Renny Waldron. “It was a complete team effort, from the first events to the very last.”

Davidson registered 64 points to take fifth. Rhode Island won the team title (184), while Mason (157) and VCU (114) rounded out the top three. 

Sophomore Bryce Anthony made a move down the backstretch of the 400-meter hurdles, coming from the third position into the final barrier and out-leaned two opponents for the conference title. Anthony reset the A-10 Meet record and smashed his own program record with a time of 51.13 seconds – a day after resetting the standard at 54.24 seconds. His time should qualify him for the NCAA East Preliminary Meet.

But Anthony wasn’t done going for gold. He led off the 4×400-meter relay team of Daniel Alvarez-Orlachia, Cory Gaither and Josh Hardin that took home the crown with a 3:15.77 performance. Hardin surged down the home stretch and into the top spot to seal the victory.

“Bryce Anthony’s performances were incredible. He has missed some time this spring because of injuries, and to come back, undeterred, and set the school record in the 400 hurdles and then run a great opening leg in our 4×400, speaks volumes about his character and his competitiveness.”

Gaither and freshman Isaac Bynum also scored in the 400-meter hurdles, along with Anthony, placing sixth and seventh, respectively. Earlier in the day, Gaither stepped onto the podium in the 110-meter hurdles, placing third with a new personal best time of 14.53 seconds. Bynum was seventh.

Sophomore Owen Drometer used a late move to claw his way onto the podium in the 1500-meter run. Drometer went out and around two competitors in the final 200 meters, powering his way to a 3:50.30 performance and earning a silver medal. Classmate Joe dosReis wrapped up his first season with the ‘Cats, taking seventh in 3:51.91. 

Drometer wrapped up the day as the anchor of the silver medalist 4×800-meter relay team. Drometer, dosReis, Ben Gordon Sniffen and Raphael Oettl raced the baton the 3200 meters in 7:36.60, narrowly missing out on another gold. 

Hardin impressed in his first championship, placing fifth in the open 400-meter run, while senior Daniel Alvarez-Orlachia took seventh in the 800-meters to claim points for the team race.

“We will miss our senior leadership; they have done so much for our program and have helped pave the way for our younger guys. Daniel Alvarez-Orlachia has done a great job as captain this year.”

Sophomore Jordan Benson soared to a new personal best height in the high jump, clearing 2.00-meters (6’6.75) to place sixth for the Wildcats. Classmate Dylan Ameres placed fifth in the triple jump with a mark of 14.42-meters (47’3.75).

“We have a great group of guys coming back; the future is bright. Some of our highest point scorers are in their rookie outdoor seasons. The future is very bright. To end the meet getting second in the 4×800 and winning the 4×400 was fantastic for our team and we are going to continue the momentum on to next year!”