Freshman Stars and Record-Breakers Lead Eagles into Outdoor Track Season

Eagles Set to Compete Across NC and PA Ahead of Patriot League Championships

Following an exceptional indoor season filled with school records and top-10 times, the Eagles track team is poised to build on their momentum in the upcoming outdoor season. The team will compete in various meets across North Carolina and Pennsylvania before participating in the Patriot League Championships hosted by Holy Cross on May 2-3 and the NCAA East Regional at the University of North Florida on May 28-31.

The Eagles will be competing almost every weekend this season. They will kick off their campaign at the Richmond Fred Hardy Invitational on March 21, where most of the squad will compete. A smaller group will travel to the Raleigh Relays hosted by NC State on March 27-29 to race against top national competition. The regular season will include two more meets in Virginia. The team will compete at the Dalton Ebanks Invitational at George Mason on April 4-5. After a brief hiatus, they will return to Virginia for the Virginia Challenge hosted by the University of Virginia on April 18-19. The Eagles will then send a group of relay squads to compete at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia on April 24-26.

In May, the team will focus on the postseason, starting with the Patriot League Outdoor Championships at Holy Cross on May 2-3. The squad will return to George Mason for the ECAC/IC4A Outdoor Track Championships on May 16-18. Athletes whose performances rank in the top 48 in the East Region will conclude their season at the NCAA East Preliminary hosted by the University of North Florida in Jacksonville from May 28-31, contending for spots at the NCAA Championships. The Eagles had an outstanding indoor track season, breaking a total of 13 school records, clocking 56 new AU top-10 times, and achieving more than 120 personal bests. Sophomore Lorelei Bangit broke her own school record in the 400 meters twice and 200 meters three times, earning a silver medal in the 400 at the Patriot League Indoor Championships on March 2. Freshman Tamara Dorval made an immediate impact, lowering the school record in the 60 meters four times throughout the season and finishing fifth at Patriot Leagues.

The women's sprint squad rewrote the record book for the 200 meters at the Patriot League Championships, adding six new marks to the top-10 list in the prelims of the event. Freshmen Zoe Clark and Lara Gin started their collegiate careers strong with top-10 times in both the 200 and 400 meters. The women's 4x400 relay team also ran the top three marks in AU history this season, breaking four minutes for the first time with a new record of 3:56.03 at the George Mason Patriot Games on February 1. On the mid-distance side, junior Kaden Kluth became AU's first four-minute miler, running a seven-second personal record (PR) of 4:00.60 at the Valentine Invitational on February 14. Junior Carver Morgan ran the second-best 800 meters in school history with a time of 1:49.37, earning a gold medal at the Patriot League Championships on March 2.

On the women's side, six Eagles added their names to the top-10 list in the 800 meters, led by junior Kate Riley, who PR-ed by almost five seconds throughout the season, clocking 2:15.00 at the Valentine Invitational. Freshman Catherine Hany also PR-ed by five seconds in the 800 meters this season, winning the George Mason Father Diamond Invitational on February 21 with a time of 2:19.05. Eight male distance runners achieved personal bests in the 3k this season, including five freshmen. Cooper Michaud led the squad with a PR of 8:20.26 at the Valentine Invitational. Freshmen Noah Smith and Ty Parker stood out with PRs of 8:21.53 and 8:23.29, respectively. Seven Eagles ran personal bests in the mile, including Morgan, whose PR of 4:06.37 at the Valentine Invitational ranks fourth all-time.

On the women's side, junior Sophia Staiger opened the season with a 37-second personal best of 17:50.69 in the 5k, ranking ninth all-time. She also ran personal bests in the 3k and mile this season. Graduate student Bryn Underwood, coming off a successful field hockey career at AU, made her mark in the 3k with a 10th all-time PR of 10:08.23. With the impressive indoor season as a springboard, the Eagles track team is ready to soar to new heights in the outdoor season, showcasing their talent and determination across various competitions.

Editor's Note:

What an exciting time it is for the Eagles track team as they head into their outdoor season, building on an extraordinary indoor campaign. With 13 school records broken, 56 top-10 times, and over 120 personal bests, the team’s accomplishments speak volumes about their dedication, talent, and determination. As they transition into the outdoor season, the energy is palpable. The upcoming months are packed with opportunities, from the Richmond Fred Hardy Invitational to the NCAA East Preliminary at the University of North Florida, offering the team a chance to compete at the highest levels. Each meeting represents a new challenge, and the Eagles are ready to take it on, striving to push their limits and continue their record-breaking journey. This event celebrates the remarkable achievements from the indoor season and looks forward to the exciting competitions ahead.

Skoobuzz hopes all the viewers will share in the excitement and continue to support the Eagles as they soar to even greater heights.