TOWSON, Md. --- The Moravian College men's and women's outdoor track & field teams have had a total of 33 student-athletes honored by the Landmark Conference for their performances at the 2016 Landmark Championships last Saturday hosted by Juniata College as the Greyhounds continued their streaks of conference titles.
In addition to sweeping the team titles, Head Coach Jesse Baumann and his staff of assistants Jonathan D'Ottavio (throws), Mike Lawyrk (pole vault), Bob Luciano (javelin), Steve Rahn (sprints/hurdles), Gary Zack (javelin), Michael El Kazzaz (pole vault), Racquel Farquharson (jumps), Tim Lorah (throws) and Robert Shaffer (sprints) were named both the men's and women's Coaching Staff of the Year.
"We are extremely proud of Head Coach Jesse Baumann and his talented coaching staff and congratulate them for being named the Landmark Outdoor Track Coaching Staff of the Year," commented Director of Athletics and Recreation George L. Bright. "Jesse is an inspirational leader, an exemplary motivator who continues to raise the bar by implementing a championship culture for Moravian's outstanding track program. He does a great job every day requiring excellence from his student-athletes in the classroom and on the track. He has assembled a terrific staff. The best is yet to come for Moravian Track."
The men's squad, which had 15 student-athletes earn 19 All-Conference honors, had graduate student thrower Parker Munson selected as the Landmark Field Athlete of the Year while freshman sprinter John Spirk won Landmark Rookie of the Year.
Munson was named to the Landmark All-Conference First Team for winning the shot put and discus, and he also earned All-Conference Second Team honors for a runner-up finish in the hammer throw.
"Parker alone scored 28 points for us this weekend against some extremely tough competition, stated Baumann. "Most notably Tom Schetroma from Susquehanna. It was an incredible meet for him and his track success this season has been well documented, but I think it's also worth mentioning the impact he's had on the team. He's been the leader by example and vocally. He's disciplined, reflective, focused, and his teammates see that and the commitment it takes to transform yourself into the athlete you envision becoming. He's been a vocal leader in team meetings and at practice, and simply put is just a genuine good guy. There were some tears shed by his teammates over the weekend knowing this would be the last conference meet with him which means much more than the distance his shot or discus flew. He was one of the main faces of our team and helped to unify everyone."
Sprik grabbed All-Conference First Team nods for his finishes in the 110-meter and 400-meter hurdles.
"To be completely honest, John surprised the coaching staff this year," said Baumann. "He came in here with good times in high school, but his performances didn't suggest he'd have the rapid improvement we've seen this year. He dropped close to a second in his high hurdle time even with the increase in the height from high school to college. You just don't see that all too often. He's a great person, works hard, and does everything you ask. He's as coachable as they come, and has been a great addition to the program. Winning two events at the meet as a freshmen is very impressive and a great sign of things to come for him in the future."
Leading the Hounds with individual Landmark All-Conference First Team honors are seniors Ryan Karnopp in the pole vault, Gavin Bailey in the long jump and junior Kahron Walker in the high jump.
Garnering Landmark All-Conference Second Team finishes were junior Austin Gardener in the100-meter and 200-meter dash, senior Ryan Sickler, who took second in the 110-meter hurdles, Walker for his second place finish in the triple jump, Bailey in the 400-meter hurdles, freshman Chris Cordi in the pole vault and junior Greg Cahill in the discus. In the 4x100 meter relay the Hounds finished second with the team of Gardener, junior Jamil Poole, sophomore Eric Morton and freshman Chris Antoine while the 4x400 meter relay team of Spirk, senior Tyler Dwyer, sophomore Andrew Mitchell, and sophomore Esco Blaylock also took home second place.
Senior Corinne Glass led the women's team, which had 18 student-athletes garner 22 All-Conference nods, as she earned Landmark Track Athlete of the Year honors. Glass was an All-Conference First Team selection by winning the both the 200 and 400-meter dashes along with combining to take the 4x100 meter relay title with teammates senior Meghan Newman, sophomore Lauren White and freshman Amari Schooler and taking All-Conference Second team in the 100-meter dash.
"Corinne yet again had an incredible meet," commented Baumann. "She scored 28 points, and helped contribute another 10 on our winning 4x100 relay. In the 400m trials and the 200m finals she showed she could take over the race when she wanted to, switching to another gear at the top of the turn with 150m to go. She set another Landmark record in the 200m and overall had a great weekend. In track it's difficult to watch all events when many times there are three or more being contested simultaneously, but she's become the type of athlete that you do everything you can to make sure you're watching because you know she could run something special every time she's in the blocks."
Freshman Anna Osman was honored as the Landmark Conference Rookie of the Year for her victory in the 400-meter hurdles and her second place in the 4x400 meter relay with teammates sophomore Monica Richardson, and freshmen Maike Krischer and Tamara Suchan.
"Anna is very gifted at the long hurdle events so we knew she wouldn't really shine this year until she got to outdoors," stated Baumann. "But she certainly did, winning the 400 hurdles in convincing fashion at the conference meet. She's been a key part of our young 400 crew all season that has qualified for ECACs in the 4x400, works extremely hard, and is a very tough competitor. We're hoping for even bigger things these upcoming weeks."
Junior Meg Brockett also took home two Landmark All-Conference First Team nods from her wins in the 5,000 and 10,000 meter runs. Also earning First Team honors were senior Abbey Clark in the shot put, sophomores Trista Cunningham in the discus, Casie Cronk in the high jump, Beth Ann Davies in the pole vault, and Melissa Cheong in the long jump and 100-meter hurdles.
The Greyhounds also had numerous student-athletes names to the Landmark All-Conference Second Team including Cheong for her finish in the high jump, seniors Chelsea Swick in the pole vault, and Newman in the 100-meter hurdles, juniors Kiara Bright in the triple jump, Jackie Finnegan in the discus and hammer throw, sophomores Cunningham in the shot put, and Mary Kate Duncan in the javelin.
Moravian is slated to compete next at the 2016 ECAC Division III Outdoor Championships at Westfield State College in Massachusetts on Wednesday and Thursday, May 18-19.
