By Lee Finkelstein
The KU men’s track and field team took four new conference-qualifying marks and a duo of Golden Bears won events at East Stroudsburg’s 16th annual DeSchriver Invitational on Saturday.
KU was able to record nine Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) qualifying marks with four new qualifiers, an uneasy accomplishment that the team was stoked to achieve.
The Golden Bears won the pole vault for the fifth-straight meet, and Sean Burns won his second in a row at an existing-PSAC height of 14-5.25. Jack Inglis also won an event on Saturday, having a career-best time of 15:56.28 to be the top finisher in 5000m.
KU has much success in the 400m as four Golden Bears finished in the top 20 and each posted season-best times. In his first competition of the year, Tristan Dickey came in second place and recorded a new-PSAC mark of 51.13. Ron Smith was right behind in fourth place with an existing-PSAC and season-best time of 51.33. C.J. Lindsay Jr. placed 13th and Austin Gallagher came in 17th.
In the 200m, freshman Jhaloni Johnson recorded his second PSAC-qualifying time on the year, placing third in 23.19. Mike Burton was KU’s top finisher in the 55m and 55m hurdles.
Naeb Mengisteab was the top finisher for KU in both the 800m and the mile. His time of 4:28.16 in the mile is a new PSAC cut and he was able to place fourth, while he placed fifth in the 800m with a time of 2:02.38.
Brad Mayer finished second in the 1000m with a season-best time, 2:38.72, while teammates Andrew Thompson and Andrew Begolly placed sixth and seventh, respectively.
In the field, Chris Varichione placed seventh in both the weight throw and the shot put with existing PSAC marks. Freshman Da’Vante Parker secured his first-career PSAC mark, leaping 42-2.75 in the triple jump to place eighth. Parker was also KU’s top finisher in the long jump at seventh place.
KU will host the Mid-Week Multi next week at the O’Pake Field House on Feb. 11-12. The rest of the Golden Bears return to action in Boston for the Valentine Invitational on Feb. 13-14.
The PSAC indoor championship starts the weekend of Feb. 28.