Preview: Colonials look to get a running start on track season

Jonathan Hanna, Contributor

YOUNGSTOWN, Oh.- The Robert Morris track and field team heads to the Watson and Tressel Training Site on the campus of Youngstown State University this weekend to take part in the Youngstown State Icebreaker track invitational.

This will be the Colonials first meet of the year. Last year, the Colonials finished third at the Northeast Conference indoor track and field championships and fourth at the Northeast Conference outdoor track and field championships.

At last year’s Youngstown State Icebreaker, the Colonials had top-five event finishes from Sam Buck (second in the weight throw [15.20 meters]), Estelle Kantende (second in the shot put [14.64 meters]), Lilly Harnish (fourth in the triple jump [11.33 meters] and third in the high jump [1.60 meters]) and Madison Mueseler (fifth in the 400 meter dash [58.72 seconds]).

The Colonials were also helped last year by Eugenia Gil-Soriano (fourth in the 800 meter run [2:18.79]), Rachel Crane (second in the 1000 meter run [3:12.04]), Martha Gardner (third in the 1000 meter run [3:12.15]), Tara Richardson (fifth in the 1000 meter run [3:15.93]) and finally the 4×400 relay made up of Madison Mueseler, Hanne Claus, Brooke Oldfin and Eugenia Gil-Soriano, which finished second, with a time of 3:53.85.

The Colonials are aided this year by seven new freshmen. Sonnie Sauvinsky ran distance at Rootstown High School in Rootstown, Ohio. Zoe Rousch is a sprinter and a jumper from South Fork, Pennsylvania. Alexis Mullarkey is a distance runner from Swedesboro, New Jersey. Taylor Mears threw for the Hornets at Hickory High School in Hermitage.

Laura Lintelman ran distance for Mercyhurst Prep. The Erie, Pennsylvania native has a personal best 5K time of 22:21 at the Tommy Evans Invitational. Tara Goldman is a biology major, who did jumps and sprints at Hopewell High School in Industry, Pennsylvania. Rounding out the freshman class is Paige Bonn, a thrower from Hazelton, Pennsylvania.

Other Pennsylvania teams that will be joining the Colonials in Youngstown include Slippery Rock University, the Seton Hill Griffins, the California University of Pennsylvania Vulcans, the Indiana University of Pennsylvania Crimson Hawks, the Point Part Pioneers, the Geneva Golden Tornadoes, the Grove City Wolverines and the Clarion Golden Eagles. Out of state teams are the host Youngstown State Penguins and the Walsh Cavaliers.