Armory Collegiate Challenge

An overall productive and fun afternoon at the Armory, with the highlight being freshman David Marthy’s stellar 800-meter run. See results, splits and commentary – all in one post! – below.

Armory Collegiate Challenge
Thursday, February 23, 2012

Men’s results and splits
800-meter run
5. David Marthy 1:54.57 *IC4A qualifier
28, 56 (28), 1:24 (58), 1:54.57 (30.57)
Coach Pete says: Wow! Nicely done! Mount Marthy erupts with a PR and IC4A qualifier. David is the first freshman to qualify for IC4As in this event, and is the second fastest individual indoors in school history, trailing only the legendary school record holder (Michael J. Bamberger), who is now shaking in his boots as he hears the footsteps of our freshman phenom.

7. Matt Panebianco 1:56.34 (personal best)
27, 56 (29), 1:25 (29), 1:56.34 (31.34)
Coach Pete says: Matty P got caught up in a very peppy early pace. He looked good and said he felt great! He ran out of steam a bit on the last lap, but still hung tough for a strong PR. It has been a solid, steady and consistent season for Matt. There is much to look forward to: IC4As, and then outdoors.

1,000-meter run
2. Arquimedes DelaCruz 2:31.11 (personal best)
28.9, 58.7 (29.8), 1:29.5 (30.8), 2:01.1 (31.6), 2:31.11 (30.01)
Coach Pete says: This was a frustrating race. Q led for much of the early going as no one would take the pace. As the field caught up with him, he reacted and closed strong, almost getting the win. In a more aggressive paced race, we feel Q could have run a bit faster. So it goes.

Mile run
7. Tom Lipari 4:16.94
31.4, 63.5 (32.1), 1:35.9 (32.4), 2:08.2 (32.3), 2:40.6 (32.4), 3:13.3 (32.7), 3:45.1 (31.8), 4:16.94 (31.84)
Coach Pete says: There was a crucial moment after the 800-meter mark when Tommy needed to make a surge/move, and it just wasn’t there. Having said that, it was a strong and consistent (even) effort. We both agree that Tom needs to “get over the hump” and we are hoping to achieve that in the coming days.

3,000-meter run
9. Billy Posch 8:42.77 (personal best)
34.8, 68.9 (34.1), 1:42.9 (34.0), 2:17.4 (34.5), 2:51.8 (34.4)
3:26.4 (34.5), 4:01.0 (34.6), 4:37.0 (36.0), 5:12.4 (35.3), 5:47.9 (35.5)
6:24.5 (35.6), 6:59.3 (35.8), 7:34.9 (35.6), 8:10.0 (35.1), 8:42.77 (32.77)
Kilometer splits: 2:51.8, 2:56.1, 2:54.87
Coach Pete says: Big Bill made the most of the slower section, which in retrospect was the best place for him to be. This old coach nearly lost his voice, his mind and his patience during those relatively slow middle laps. But Billy hung tough and closed strong for a solid PR. We are expecting big things out of Billy in the upcoming outdoor season.

Women’s results and splits
800-meter run
20. Kara Lightowler 2:29.39
36.3, 73.0 (36.7), 1:50.6 (37.6), 2:29.39 (38.79)
Coach Pete says: Solid effort on short turnaround time for a double.

Mile run
9. Kara Lightowler 5:19.50 (season best)
38.9, 76.5 (37.7), 1:56.0 (39.5), 2:35.7 (39.7), 3:15.9 (40.2), 3:56.4 (40.5), 4:37.6 (41.2), 5:19.50 (41.90)
Coach Pete says: Kara’s stated pre-race was goal was sub-5:20. Mission accomplished – the hard way! Kara went out hard and hung tough to get under 5:20. Nicely done!

3,000-meter run
6. Addie DiFrancesco 10:22.81 (season best)
39.4, 81.0 (41.6), 2:02.1 (41.1), 2:43.0 (40.9), 3:24.1 (41.1)
4:05.5 (41.4), 4:46.8 (41.3), 5:28.2 (41.4), 6:10.1 (41.9), 6:51.8 (41.7)
7:34.4 (42.6), 8:17.1 (42.7), 8:59.3 (42.3), 9:42.3 (43.0), 10:22.81 (40.51)
Kilometer splits: 3:24.1, 3:27.7, 3:31.01
Coach Pete says: Addie did a great job locking into Coach Chuck’s pre-race prescribed 41-second-per-lap pace, and she did this in a crowded pack that had her breaking stride and getting tripped up a few times. As that pack slowed a bit, Addie fought to pick up the pace, but her breathing in the dry Armory air was a bit labored over the last 1km. Overall, a very solid effort and a nice springboard into the outdoor track season.