CAPITAL ATHLETIC CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS

The Capital Athletic Conference is a multi-state conference that contains the schools of Mary Washington from Virginia, Wesley College of Delaware, York College of Pennsylvania, Galludet of DC, and Hood College and Salisbury State University from Maryland. These school attract many ex-Maryland high school athletes and they are here today at the CAC Championships at York College.

York has a brand new athletic facility in the Grumbacher Center and a beautiful 8-lane state of the art track and field complex and recently has been a place where many Maryland athletes have flocked to the past few years. Salisbury State led by Jim Jones has one of the strongest track programs in the country in Division 3 and is led by Eric Graves, a 1500, 5000 meter runner from Catonsville.

At the start of the womens 10,000 meter run at 9:45AM, the track had already started to heat up under a cloudless sky. Masha Berge of Salisbury led from the opening gun to win in 41:01.9.    SPLITS

The men’s 10,000 had to deal with another 5 degree jump in the temperature and it showed after the first 1600. Ben Thomas of Salisbury (Reservoir) led through the 1600 at 5:18 and gave up the lead after the 3200 to eventual winner Brian Fulton of Mary Washington (34:57.2).   Many of the other athletes slowed substantially through the latter parts of the race.    SPLITS

100 meter dash heat winners men – Delane Spriggs, Salisbury 10.78; Justin Acker, Salisbury 10.94; Michael Clark, Wesley 11.09.
Christi Falcone of Mary Washington was the favorite going into the womens 3000 steeplechase with Kelly Sullivan of Salisbury (Maryvale) next in line. Falcone took a small lead into the first waterjump and came out with a five meter lead over Sullivan (400 in 89.4).  Falcone picked up the pace and hit the 800 in 2:54 (84.3) and 1200 (4:21.6). Falcone hit the 1600 in 5:51.4 with a seven second lead over Sullivan. Falcone held the lead for the win in 11:17.8.

The men’s steeplechase had Jesse Jaeger (Perry Hall) of York and Bill Nastiasiak of Salisbury entering the race with identical seed times. William Andrews of Hood (Walkersville) and Nick Manning of Hood (Urbana) were also expected to run well. Jake Pattyson of Mary Washington took the pace out fast, but after the 800, Jaeger went into the lead passing the 800 in 2:27. At the 1600, Jaeger still had the lead at 5:04, but the heat was starting to take it’s toll. Nastasiak caught him with and 800 left in the race and slowly widened his lead. At the end, Nastasiak came across with a winning time of 10:02. Jaeger held onto second in 10:16.   SPLITS

In the women’s 1500 Hayley Sullivan of Mary Washington and Casey McInerny of Salisbury had the two fastest seed times. The race also had Liz Tollett of Salisbury (ChesapeakeAA) in the field. Sullivan led through the 400 in 1:13.4 with McInerney five meters back. Sullivan continued to lead at the 800 (2:35.4/1:21.9). Tollett had moved into fourth place at the 800 mark. Sullivan extended the lead at 1200 meters (3:54.1/1:18.3). Sullivan held on for the win in 4:53.4.

The men’s 1500 had all the potential of being the best race of the day. Eric Graves of Salisbury (Catonsville) had the fastest seed time of 4:00.30 coming into the race, but Matt Cash of Mary Washington had a 1:52 800 to his credit this year. Add in Jason Driscoll and Brent Cavedo of Mary Washington both under 4:10 and the race could be very fast. Graves led the first 400 in 1:00.9 with Cash and Matt Neil of York sitting in second and third. Cash continued to let Graves lead through a 2:07 800 as Graves put a few steps on the Mary Washington runner. The remainder of the pack was 15 meters back. Cash had closed on Graves at 1200 in 3:13 and coming down the front stretch Cash makes a move to pass at the top of the stretch, but Graves holds him off to win in 4:00.8     SPLITS

In the women’s 800, Hayley Sullivan of of Mary Washington led through the 400 in 1:09.3, but was passed by teammate Clarice Winchester in 2:21.10. Winchester led a 1-2-3 Mary Washington finish.

In the first heat of the boys 800, Akeem Mackall (SouthernAA) and Danny Bosse (Century) both of York were looking to get under 2:00 for the first time this year. At the 200 Kevin Love of York led in 29.8 with Bosse on his shoulder. Love continued to lead three other York runners through the 400 at 57.9. Mackall took the lead at the 500 and hit 600 at 1:31.8. Mackall struggled on the last 100 but held on for the win in 2:04.6.

In the second heat, Matt Cash’s 1:52.7 seed time was the fastest seed by four seconds, but a strong wind that has blown up, plus the heat and humidity could even out the field. Mary Washington had five runners in the final. Cash led at 200 in 28.6 and passed 400 in 56.8. He was talking to his teammates to keep up and drops out at 500 giving the lead to teammate Mo Yousuf who held the lead until the final 20 meters when passed by fellow UMW teammate Sean O’Neill for the win in 1:55.9.

200 meter heat winners  - Women - Ashley Cox, Wesley 29.0; Jessica Parrish, Hood 25.1; Men – Ryan Jenkins, Hood 24.08;  Michael Clark, Wesley 22.1; Larry Beavers, Wesley 22.23.

The women’s 5000 will be a battle between the same two ladies from the steeplechase, Christy Falcone and Kelly Sullivan. Also added into the mix will be Mary Washington’s Ann Tripp. Through the first 1600, those three girls and Zoe O’Zwoldike of Salisbury ran together leisurely through a 6:16 split. No one is really wanting to take the pace out fast in the heat, humidity, and blowing pollen. Through two miles, the pace stayed the same as they passed in 12:28 as the three favorites had broken away. With three laps to go, the pace has picked up with Tripp making the move. With two to go, Tripp has put some distance between herself and Falcone. Sullivan has fallen about five meters back.  At the finish line, Tripp wins in  19:00.0 win Falcone almost getting her at the line.    SPLITS

The men’s race will be a fight between 1500 winner Eric Graves and Frank DeVar of Mary Washington. Devar is trying to push the pace early since Graves ran a fast race earlier. They pass the 800 in 2:28.4. At the 1600 Devar has a one or two meter lead on Graves in 4:57. Jason Driscoll of Mary Washington is starting to move up on the lead two and Matt Provonche of York is running well in fourth.  Graves has gone in front of DeVar at 2400 meters and is taking water on the far turn as is most of the other runners.  Graves looks to be pushing the pace turning over 75 second 400’s.  Both front runners are struggling, but Driscoll is still within striking distance. The 3200 is passed in 10:09. The pace has slowed up front with the leaders now turning over 78 second 400’s.  With a 1000 to go, Graves is increasing his turnover, but DeVar is staying on his shoulder. With 600 to go and after another 78 second lap, both front runners are trying to go. Graves makes the first move with 300 to go and gets two meters on Devar. Coming off the top of the stretch, DeVar makes a move and pulls ahead of Graves five meters from the line to win in 15:47.8.    SPLITS

Womens 1600 Relay    SPLITS
Mens 1600 Relay    SPLITS