The number of teams competing in the Cregger Center will only be eight this weekend, but the Noke Elite Meet will feature some of the best D3 schools in the East. Carnegie Mellon University is a perennial power in the University Athletic Association, one of the best conferences in D3. Also from the Mideast Region, Gettysburg College represents the Centennial Conference. The squad from Berry College drives north from Rome, GA. At last year's Southern Athletic Association meet, the Vikings placed 3rd in both genders.
Roanoke will be well represented by several athletes who are competing at a high level. After finishing 2nd last weekend (8.61), Xavier O'Brien will compete again in the 60 hurdles, an event in which he shares the school record. Kyle Bland won last weekend's Weight Throw, beating all the D1 and D2 competition with a heave of a quarter inch shy of 50'. The senior is closing in on the school record of 50'5.
Troy Crawley is set for another good showing in the 60 dash. Last weekend he was 5th going 7.19 seconds. Peter Smith and Chamberlain Zulauf will compete in the 3000 after a successful 5000 a week ago where Smith was 2nd (16:08) and Zulauf 3rd (16:12). Corbin Turner is looking for a strong showing in the pole vault. The All ODAC performer set the school record of 14'1" last year, a record that stood for over 60 years!
In the women's competition, ODAC champion Jayna Jean-Jules is focused on improving her personal best, which now stands at 49'5.75". Lily Lippert is scheduled to compete in the 400 with a personal best of 61 seconds. The triumvirate of Lindsey Baxter, Claire Trotto, and Chloe Van Duyne should place well in the women's vault. Baxter has won the ODAC twice and holds both indoor and outdoor records. Trotto has been close behind, twice placing 2nd and twice in 3rd at the championships. Freshman Van Duyne was 3rd at the Bast-Cregger Meet, clearing the same height as the winner (10'11.75"), but had more misses.
Alison Moreau returns to the High Jump where she has earned multiple ODAC honors. Last weekend she had a good showing in the 200 (6th), finishing first among D3 athletes. Along with Moreau, All ODAC Claire Aurand will compete in the 60 meters after sprinting 7.98 seconds back in December.
This meet we will be honoring our seniors as this will be the last home regular season meet: Brittany Mallette, Claire Aurand, Dillion Kopec, Jayna Jean-Jules, Kaleb Bland, Kyle Bland, Lindsey Baxter, Paul Houston, Tyler Barrett, Nathaniel Willis, Jenna Williams, Athey Crump, Alec Carlson, Adrienne Spring, and Hailey Davis.
Start time is 11am.
Live Meet Results: Click Here
In USTFCCCA Southeast Region news, the Roanoke men moved into the Top 10 of the rankings at the ninth slot. The women repeated with a 7th ranking among the 30+ competing institutions.
