HARRISONBURG, Va. – Thursday and Friday saw the EMU Track & Field team compete in familiar territory, hosting the annual EMU Heritage Invitational at their state-of-the-at, on-campus Track & Field Complex. The Royals welcomed athletes from Bridgewater, the JMU Club team, Mary Baldwin, Marymount, Shenandoah, Southern Virginia, Sweet Briar, and several unattached athletes.
It was an excellent day of competition for EMU as the men's team won nine of the 18 events of the two-day meet in their home venue.
Koran Rucker, a first-year from Philadelphia, headlined with three wins in the throwing events.
Ahsan Abul-Qasim set a top-15 mark in Division III this season in the long jump.
Highlights
- DISTANCE/MID-DISTANCE
- 800m Run: Alex Belisle was the top Royal, finishing fourth in a time of 2:14.12.
- 1500m Run: Ethan Kanagy made the podium in third place, clocking in at 4:29.77.
- SPRINTS
- 100m Dash: Running in the reverse direction due to wind conditions worked out well for the Royals' short sprinters. Da'Shawn Winters broke the tape in 10.86 to finish second. His time places him fifth in the ODAC so far this season for the 100m dash. Jameel Vann was not far behind in third place with a time of 10.90
- 200m Dash: Abul-Qasim picked up the win with an impressive time of 21.80, which places him in a tie for third in EMU history.
- 400m Dash: Nick Arnold took home gold with a winning time of 50.01.
- 400m Hurdles: Making his collegiate debut in the event, Filipo Toelau won with a time of 58.49.
- 110 Hurdles: Toelau doubled up on hurdle wins by taking the 110mH in a time of 14.85.
- JUMPS
- High Jump: Abul-Qasim placed second, clearing the bar at 1.90m (6'2.75").
- Long Jump: Abul-Qasim saved his most noteworthy performance for the long jump, landing in the sand pit at 7.10m (23'3.5") to win the event. The mark puts him in a tie for third in EMU history as well as tied for 13th in Division III this season. Hezekiah Brown took home second place with a jump of 6.86m (22'6.25"), placing third in the ODAC this season.
- Pole Vault: Alex Jantzen won the pole vault with a clearance of 3.41m (11'2.25").
- THROWS
- Discus: Rucker cruised to victory with a superb throw of 47.74m (156'7"), again extending his school record in the event. Silas Bate made the final in the discus, placing ninth with a best throw of 35.04m (114'11").
- Hammer: Rucker's winning throw landed at 50.57m (165'11"), moving him up to second in EMU history and second in the ODAC this season. Bates also made the final in the hammer, slotting into eighth place
- Shot Put: Rucker won comfortably with a mark of 15.38m (50'5.5") on his first throw of the event.
What's Next
The EMU Track & Field team will send a small group of athletes down the street to the JMU Invitational tomorrow, Saturday, April 11. The first events will commence at 10 a.m.
