University of Richmond Athletics
University of Richmond
Armory Collegiate Invitational
Traynor, Van Alstine Break School's 3K Mark; Spratford Shines At U.S. XC Trials
02/07/2009 | Women's Track & Field
Feb. 7, 2009
New Balance Results | CNU Results | U.S. Cross Country Trials Results
RICHMOND - Nicol Traynor broke a school record in the 3,000m, then Amy Van Alstine broke it again to highlight a busy weekend for the Spiders. While half the team was in NYC, others competed at Christopher Newport and three more at the U.S. Cross Country Championship trials.
Van Alstine took 14th in the championship division of the women's 3,000m, posting a time of 9:48.86 -- three seconds faster than Traynor's record-breaking time from Friday night and four-seconds quicker than Ruth Chege's mark of 9:52.81 orginally set in 2002. The record marks the first women's indoor school record to fall since the 2007 season, and the first indoor distance record eclipsed since 2005 (Amanda Russell in the 5,000m).
Traynor, who first snapped Chege's record on Friday, raced to the finish in a time of 9:51.90 and was just edged out at the wire by Christian Woytalewicz of Florida State (9:51.23) in the college division race. Traynor also finished 18th in the mile in 5:06.47.
With indoor track season in full swing, freshman Katrina Spratford posted a top-15 finish at the U.S. Cross Country Junior Championship trials in Derwood, Md. Spraford's time of 22:13 in the 6k race could earn the Calipon, N.J. on the Junior National Championship team. Emma Berry finished 33rd (23:07). Tim Smith competed in junior men's 8k and finished 37th (26:26).
Matt Llano posted another top-five finish for the Spiders at the New Balance Invitational, placing fourth in the championship division of the 5,000m in a time of 14:25.10. In the college division, Tim Quinn took fifth in the 5,000m (14:48.69).
Other top finishers for the men included Sean Welsh's 12th-place showing the mile (4:15.87), Jeff Strojny taking 19th in the 1,000m (2:30.28) and Garrett Graham placing 19th in the mile (4:17.10).
At Christopher Newport, Beth Kelly and Julie Rechel swept the top-two spots in the 3,000m, with Kelly taking the gold in 10:17.47 and Rechel the silver in 10:24.53.
X'auntasia Johnson was the silver-medalist in the triple jump (11.12m) and was eighth in the long jump (4.96m).
Other top-10 finishes for the Spider women included Geneen Dore, who was sixth in the 55m (7.45). Jasmine Cottle placed eighth in the 400m (1:00.84) and Heather Roush was ninth in the weight throw (12.50m).
The men received top-10 finishes from Dan Petty, who was was 10th in the mile (4:42.79) and Devin Cassels, who placed sixth in the pole vault (3.75m).
The Spiders have one final tune-up -- the Liberty Quad on Feb. 13 -- before the Atlantic 10 Indoor Championship begins Feb. 20 at Rhode Island.
