SIX DISTANCE RUNNERS, AMONGST OTHER JASPERS, GUARANTEE THEMSELVES CHANCE TO MEET THE METS
New York, N.Y. (January 12, 2007)--On January 26, at least six Manhattan distance runners will have the opportunity to head back to the Armory to meet the Mets. During Friday evening's New Balance NYC Gotham Cup Invitational at the 168th Street Armory, Milos Vuckovic, Joe McElhoney, Megan Radermacher, Shannon Radermacher, Lindsay Southard, and Melissa Trauscht surpassed the qualifying standard for the Metropolitan Championships in their respective events with Vuckovic also meeting the standard for the IC4A Championships in the 1000m.
Vuckovic, who is in his first season of competition for the Jaspers, clocked in at 2:28.40 to claim third place overall and second amongst collegiate entries in the 1000m. In the women's version of the race, graduate student Megan Radermacher, who is competing in her first season as a Jasper after completing her undergraduate degree at Michigan State University, claimed 12th place with a Met qualifying time of 3:03.39.
Joining Radermacher in making her first trip to the Mets will be her twin sister Shannon, who won the women's 800m. Shannon Radermacher, who also completed her undergraduate work at Michigan State, posted a time of 2:16.57.
In the men's 3K, junior Joe McElhoney assured himself an entry at the Mets for the third consecutive year by producing a new personal record. McElhoney's time of 8:44.16 placed him eighth within a 59-entrant field.
In the women's 3000m, freshman Lindsay Southard finished fourth out of 45 entries en route to earning the bid to the Metropolitan Championships. Southard, who was Manhattan's top finisher in nearly every cross country race this past fall, posted a time of 10:32.05. In the same race, sophomore Melissa Trauscht finished in 20th place with her time of 11:06.83. Sitting directly below Trauscht on the results page is fellow sophomore Erin Kennedy. Kennedy clocked in at 11:09.62 to come up just short of the Met qualifying standard.
Manhattan also experienced success in the field with senior jumpers Nick Newman and Tiina Magi leading the way. Newman, who is already an NCAA provisional qualifier after jumping 7.54m in the season opener, was first amongst collegiate entries in the long jump with a top mark of 7.22m. Magi, the 2006 ECAC Outdoor triple jump champion, jumped 12.41m to claim first place amongst her fellow collegians. Also in the triple jump, junior Shanelle Lawrence set a new personal best at 11.48m to finish fifth overall and qualify for the Met Championships.
In its final competition before the Metropolitan Championships, Manhattan Track and Field will travel to the Captial District for the Great Dane Classic on Friday, January 19.