TOWSON, Md. --- The Moravian College men's and women's outdoor track & field teams had a total of 17 student-athletes earn All-Conference accolades for their performances at the 2019 Landmark Conference Outdoor Championships last weekend at Goucher College.
Head Coach Jesse Baumann and his staff of assistants Jonathan D'Ottavio (throws), Sarah Werner (sprints), Dan McSurdy (hurdles and sprints), Megan Noble (distance) and Doug Houser (pole vault) were selected as both the men's and women's Coaching Staffs of the Year.
"Jesse and his staff did another outstanding job this year with both the men and women track programs," commented Director of Athletics Mary Beth Spirk. "They had to overcome adversity on both teams. Despite the adversity, the coaching staff figured out a way to put their athletes in positions to win both titles. Jesse's steady and positive influence on his staff and student athletes is quite evident. We are fortunate to have Jesse lead our men's and women's track programs. Congratulations on garnering another well-deserved Landmark Coaching Staff of the Year honor."
The men's squad, which captured its fifth straight and 11th overall Landmark Conference outdoor title, had eight student-athletes earn 14 All-Conference honors. Leading the Hounds with individual Landmark All-Conference First Team honors was senior John Spirk, who was named the Male Track Athlete of the Year after winning both the 110-meter high hurdles and 400-meter hurdles for the fourth straight year and adding a title in the 400-meter dash.
"We asked a tremendous amount of John going into the meet because we knew the team needed all that he could contribute," stated Baumann. "It risked him achieving some personal accolades and success, but he was willing to step up because he has a team-first attitude and wanted to do what he could to help us win. He had an incredible day winning three events and contributing crucial points in the 200 and the 4x100. He's among the most successful hurdlers in the history of the conference, so this honor is well deserved both for his talent, but also for the selfless way he's led our team throughout the season and most importantly at the Championships this weekend. We're hoping he can cap off his career the way he deserves with a trip to the NCAAs in a few weeks."
The Hounds had two other First Team selections with senior Jon Anthony winning the discus with a championship meet record distance and sophomore Shane Mastro capturing the shot put.
The Greyhounds had nine Second Team selections with runner-up finishes at the championship meet including three by junior Greg Jaindl, who was second in the 1,500-meter run, the 3,000-meter steeplechase and the 5,000-meter run. Junior Justin Beasley-Turner was the runner-up in the 800-meter run while freshman Taylor Porter McPherson was second in the 400-meter dash. Anthony finished as the runner-up in the hammer throw while Mastro took second in the discus. Junior Ryan Harper placed second in the shot put while freshman Max Schuman was the runner-up in the pole vault.
The women's squad won its 12th consecutive conference outdoor title this past Sunday. The Greyhounds had nine student-athletes garner 18 All-Conference nods.
Junior Carly Danoski won both the 800-meter and 1,500-meter runs, and she was part of the winning 4x400-meter relay team with senior Anna Osman, sophomore Morgan Weaver and freshman Ally Lambert. Osman and Weaver also earned First Team Honors in the 4x100-meter relay with senior Jordan Luciano and sophomore Camaryn Wheeler.
Lambert was a First Team honoree by winning the 400-meter hurdles while sophomore Jenevieve Eberly won the 100-meter hurdles.
Luciano earned three Second Team honors with runner-up finishes in the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash and long jump while Weaver was second in the 400-meter dash. Freshman Natalie Stabilito was the runner-up in the 800-meter run while sophomore Natalie Novotni was second in the 5,000-meter run.
Moravian is slated to return to action on Monday, May 14 at the Swarthmore College Last Chance Qualifier beginning at 4:00 p.m.
To view the entire 2019 Landmark All-Conference Track & Field Teams, visit http://landmarkconference.org/sports/track/2018-19/releases/05072019-out-track-awards.
