Vassar meet: Jesse Aprile sprints to 100-meter dash school record!

It was a great night of track among family, friends, team members and all others at what amounts to a home meet for us at Vassar College. As usual, the weather was perfect, the events were competitive and our athletes had great performances top to bottom. It certainly helps having a meet 10 minutes from home!

The far-and-away highlight of the night was Jesse Aprile’s stunningly dominant school-record performance in the 100-meter dash. Jesse bolted out of the blocks and never looked back, winning the dash in 11.08 seconds. This eclipses the previous record of 11.09 seconds, which was set way back in 1999. This was a truly thrilling moment for us all, and a much-needed silver lining in what has otherwise been a clouded outdoor season for Coach Terry Horton. Jesse has been battling injury issues (who hasn't?) the past few weeks, but he shed those worries with one glorious sprint down the straightaway. Here's hoping he can carry that momentum forward into Sunday's MAAC meet in his events.

Jesse wasn’t the only individual champion on Friday evening. Other winners included: Connor Dodge (400-meter dash); Mark Valentino (3,000 steeplechase); Omar Perez (10,000-meter run), Siobhan Pokorney (high jump).

There were also many personal-best times recorded (other than Jesse’s, obviously). They included: Kyle Hannifin, Pat Deedy and Ricky Willi in the 1,500; Omar Perez and Doug Ainscow in the 10,000; Kevin O’Sullivan and our old pal Rob Gorski (now running for SUNY New Paltz) in the 5,000; Catherine Ferreri in the 800. I will post splits and hopefully some photos a bit later on, hopefully before heading down to Rider for the MAAC meet on Saturday morning.

To one and all, competitors, team members, friends, family, Vassar Track, officials, etc. …. NICELY DONE on what is quite honestly among the best and most fun nights of the year for our program.

Matthew Vassar Twilight Meet

Vassar College track

Poughkeepsie, NY

Friday, May 3, 2013

Men’s results

100-meter dash

1-Jesse Aprile 11.08 *school record, previous record 11.09 by Dan Hagendorn, 1999

3-Darren Bushey 11.53

400-meter dash

1-Connor Dodge 53.17

800-meter run

6-Mark Vuono 1:59.80

1,500-meter run

9-Kyle Hannafin 4:15.34 (personal best)

11-Pat Deedy 4:18.14 (personal best)

16-Ricky Willi 4:25.08 (personal best)

28-Adam Osowski (unattached) 4:43.52

5,000-meter run

2-Ryan Colabella (unattached) 15:30.41

4-Kevin O’Sullivan (unattached) 15:38.11

6-Ian Dorset 15:42.47

7-Rob Gorski (SUNY New Paltz) 15:43.46 (personal best)

8-Mark Valentino (unattached) 16:12.68

12-Mike Keegan 16:32.46

13-Justin Tampellini 16:35.34

10,000-meter run

1-Omar Perez 33:13.09 (personal best)

2-Ken Walshak (unattached) 33:13.18

3-Doug Ainscow 33:47.44 (personal best)

4-Will Schanz 33:56.56

3,000-meter steeplechase

1-Mark Valentino (unattached) 9:45.07

2-Chris Reynolds 10:08.28

Women’s results

100-meter dash

8-Taylor Mead 14.35

800-meter run

10-Catherine Ferreri 2:32.59

High jump

1-Siobhan Pokorney 1.35 meters