Track, field sets 13th school record

Kaitlin Cordes, Track and Field Reporter

Sophomore Jocelyn Mendoza, seniors Dhiaa Dean, Kristen Paris and Julie James’ recent record-breaking distance medley performance at Notre Dame provided the Panthers with their 13th school record broken so far in the 2016-2017 indoor track season.

The 11 minute, 41.99 second relay marked the 10th broken school record for the women alone. This is James’ second school record earned this season as she holds the fifth all-time record in the 800-meter run.

The only other woman to break two school records in the duration of this season is senior Bryn Buckwalter. Buckwalter is second all-time in the women’s shot put event with a throw of 49’07.75” and third all-time in weight throw at 57’11.25”.

Fellow thrower and senior Nicolette Diana holds Eastern’s 10th place school record in the weight throw with her 53’10.25” toss at the EIU Early Bird meet in Dec. 2016.

Seniors Ruth and Rachel Garippo have also set records in two distance events.

Ruth now holds the third overall record in the 3,000-meter run with a time of 9:56.88 she earned at the Indiana Relays in Jan. Rachel is Eastern’s sixth-place record holder in the 5,000-meter run with a time of 17:25.57.

Juniors Darneisha Spann and Stephanie Dominguez each also earned school records at the Indiana Relays in their respective events. Spann is the sixth all-time 60-meter hurdler after her 8.60-second race on Jan. 28. Dominguez also earned a sixth place spot in the 600-meter run with her record-breaking time of 1:37.40.

Senior Anita Shaffa is the second-place all-time as a  60-meter dash runner after her 7.56-second run at the Illini Classic. Senior Riley McInerney and sophomore Adam Kessler round up track and field’s record setters for the indoor season so far.

McInerney has earned two school records in the mile run and the 3,000-meter run. He is fifth all-time in the mile with a time of 4:05.81 and eighth in the 3,000-meter dash with a time of 8:15.75. McInerney’s father, John, also holds a ninth-place school record in the mile (4:08.5).

Kessler has found himself holding the ninth overall school record in the shot put with his 54’08.00” throw at the Panthers’ season opener. Kessler came close to his record-shattering throw again at the John Craft Invite where he threw 54’02.50”.

Senior Riley Kittridge said in an interview following the John Craft Invite that one of his biggest goals this season is to break a school record, a feat he achieved last season in the shot put. He threw 57’00.25” and came close to his record in the Notre Dame Meyo Invite  which was 56’02.00”.

The Panthers will continue their quest for school records this Friday and Saturday when they travel to compete in the Grand Valley State meet in Michigan.

Kaitlin Cordes can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected]