Knights Men's Track come out as runner up in YSCC Conference Championship
Eastern CT -
This Saturday April 20th Vermont State University went to Eastern Connecticut University to participate in the Yankee Small College Conference Championships.
A bit of History was made in the track program as Vermont State Randolph Men's Track & Field team took 2nd place in conference behind Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (ACPHS). The team worked together well. First year Givel Nelson-Nunez set a school record in the 100m and qualified for the USCAA National Championships next weekend. Givel also set the record in the discus while qualifying for Nationals in the Discus, 100m, 4x100, High Jump and Shotput.
Throws team captain Luke Williams also set a school record in the discus and qualified for USCAA Nationals in both the discus and shot put.
New team member Brennon Celious qualified for Nationals in the High Jump and the Long Jump. Brennon came to the team later in the season, and actually competed in his first track meet at conference and managed to jump nearly 18' in the Long Jump to qualify. Brennon has a lot of natural talent, and coach Dunke is excited to be working with him.
Sophomore Kaleb Swett qualified for Nationals in the High Jump (While setting the school record), Pole Vault, Javelin, 4x400, 4x100, and the 400m run. Coach Dunkle indicated "Kaleb is a natural athlete and is so humble about it. He is a great coach as well, and will spend time helping other team members get the techniques down. Kaleb and Givel have traded the school record back and forth in the high jump, and Kaleb helped teach Givel the basics."
Other members of the team who worked hard to help the team secure the second place standing include Rio Coursen in the 3000m steeplechase, 1500m race, and 5000m run. Elijah Boucher 5000m, steeplechase and the 1500, Oskar Lehnartz in the Steeplechase, and the 5000m. Oskar also filled in at the last minute in the 4x400m. Rupesh Guring qualified for Nationals in the Pole Vault while Thomas Transeau qualified in the 4x400 and the 400m. Miguel Acevedo is part of the Nationals bound 4x100 relay team in his first track meet. First year Norman Benoit competed in the 1500 and the 5000m qualifying for nationals in both.
Kaleb Swett won the High Jump to become the first Conference Champion in High Jump for Vermont State.
On the Womens side of the meet, Vermont State brought 2 women to the conference championships. Savannah Perry became the first woman athlete from Vermont State Randolph to win a YSCC conference title, and she got not 1 but 2 conference titles. She won the 100m and the 400m to earn the title champion and a birth in the nationals meet on Saturday. Savannah also competed in the shotput and discus, qualifying for Nationals in both. Arna Amundsdottir competed in Shot put and discus and has also earned a spot at nationals . Throws coach George Olson said about his throws team, " They all worked hard to get the proper technique and skill needed to do well. And they did well!"
Coach Dunkle was voted coach of the year for the YSCC conference.
Wish the team well as we travel to Springfield, MA for the USCAA National Championships on Friday and Saturday, April 26 & 27..
