Track and Field Tallies 31 Top-5 Performances

The Vikings track and field program squared off with 15 teams from New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Maine at the Carla Coffey Classic at Smith College on Saturday. It was another strong showing by the men and women as there were 31 top-five performances, including seven first place finishes.

The first event on the track was the men's and women's 10K (6.2miles), teammates Holden Maynard and Jake Blaauboer combined for a first and second place finish, respectively. Shortly after Maynard's win in the 10k, teammates Jared Craw and Joe DeGiorgio took to the track in the 3000m Steeplechse where they finished first and third. Craw finished 35 seconds ahead of the second-place competitor. 

Elijah Washington took home two first-place finishes in both the hammer throw and the shot put. Elijah's throw in the shot put was not only a new personal best, but it was also a qualifying mark for the NJCAA National Championship Meet in May. Elijah has now qualified for three individual events for the National Championship Meet in the shot put, hammer throw and the javelin. Devin Kipp won the 100m dash and immediately followed it up with a third-place finish in the shot out with a new seasonal best. 

Chris Mannolini-Adams and Harry Elliott also collected event wins as Mannolini-Adams collected his second win in as many weeks in the triple jump. Elliott, in his first collegiate track meet, scored a first-place finish for the Vikings in the pole vault. 

The women were led by Mercedes Planavsky, who had a second place and fourth-place finish on the day. Planavsky's first event was the women's 10k run, she nearly eclipsed the record in her first ever attempt at the event. She would later run to a new collegiate best in the 800m with a time of 2:35.99. 

Alexis Holmes joined Mercedes with two top-five performances on the day. Holmes threw a new season best on her last throw of the discus finals to jump from a fifth-place finish to a third-place finish. Following a quick turnaround, Alexis hurried to compete in the javelin, which she threw a new six-meter personal best. 

Teammates Ashley Martinez and Hannah White finished fourth and fifth respectively in the 400m race.

Other top-five performances on the day included:

Rutchlor Louis: Second Place in the 100m and Long Jump

Jared Craw: Second Place in the 800m 

Daniel Foley: Second Place in the 110 Hurdles (Season Best)

Chris Mannolini-Adams: Second Place in the 400 Hurdles (Personal Best) and a third place in the Long Jump

400m Team Relay (Sylla, Kipp, Vice, Louis): Second Place

Immanuel Manera: Second Place in the Discus 

Fabian Kendrick: Placed third in the 110 Hurdles (Season Best)

Noah Vice and Jordan Beebe tied for third place in the High Jump

Jericho Sylla: Placed third in the Triple Jump

Alec Ratelle: Fourth Place in the Discus

Immanuel Manera: Fourth Place in the Hammer