May 6, 2006

AU Track Closes Out PL Championships with Wins in Men's 5000 and Women's 1500

May 6, 2006

WORCESTER, Ma. - Keira Carlstrom shined in her final Patriot League Championship, winning the 1500 meters with ease, and Steve Hallinan kept AU's firm hold on the men's 5000 meters with a rousing finish to highlight the American University track teams' performances on the final day of competition at the 2006 Patriot League Outdoor Championships. After all was said and done, the men finished fifth and the women took seventh.

Carlstrom extended her Patriot League winning streak to three years in the women's 1500 as she simply ran away from the field for a 4:26.20 first-place finish. Second-place finisher Ashley Urick from Army hung with Carlstrom for 800 meters - which the pair hit in just over 2:20 - before fading. The AU senior ended her PL career with her only individual loss coming at the 2002 Patriot League Cross Country meet as a freshman. Sophomore Kate Lilley, who's struggled with injuries in her short career as an Eagle, showed a lot of promise as she took ninth overall in a season best 4:51.67 - the eighth-fastest time in AU history.

Hallinan took AU's other win on the day, winning the men's 5000 with a blazing last half-mile in 2:05 for a time of 14:35. The AU sophomore waited in the pack through mile splits of 4:41 and 9:27 before sitting on the shoulder of co-favorite Mike Hanlon of Colgate into the last three laps. Hallinan was in perfect position on Hanlon's heels as the Colgate junior dropped a 30 second 200 with two laps remaining. Hallinan took the lead for good with 600 to go and kept the pace rolling, extending his lead to 10 yards, which he held to the finish. Junior Conor Lanz, who was doubling back from the 1500 meters, picked up fourth-place in 14:45.

American got other valuable points in the men's 1500 as Brian McCabe led an AU 2-3-4 finish. Sophomore Brendan Fennell took the lead off the start and towed the field through a 60 second first quarter before relinquishing the lead to teammate Conor Lanz as they went through the half at right around 2:00. The pace slacked on the third lap when Army's Phil Sakala went to the front with McCabe clipping at his heels. The pair broke away from the field in the final lap and Sakala slowly inched away for the win through the final turn - the first time any non-AU runner has won the 1500 title since AU joined the PL in 2001 - as McCabe finished eight meters back in 3:49.03. Fennell used a strong kick in the final 150 to claim third at 3:51.39 and Lanz just edged Navy's Andrew Rose in the final strides for fourth in 3:52.10. The three Eagles combined for 18 team points in the event.

In the men's half mile, junior Alex Caudana ran a personal best 1:51.36 for third-place to match his third-place indoor finish. Navy's Paul Harris took the lead from the beginning and had an eight meter lead at halfway with the rest of the field coming through the quarter-mile at 54. At the top of the backstretch Caudana made a strong move to close on Harris with Lehigh's Garret Zambrows in tow. The AU junior maintained second-place until the turn when Zambrows surged past. Caudana pushed off the final turn, but ran out of room in catching the Mountain Hawk and settled for third. Harris set a new PL meet record in 1:49.30 for the win. Out of the third heat, Dustin Emrani was forced to race against the clock, knowing the fast heat was next up. After an opening 400 in 54, Emrani faded on the backstretch, taking second in his heat, but seventh overall in 1:54.25 - just out of the point scorers.

Zaia Wharton ran aggressively in the women's 800, taking the lead after an opening 400 in 63 before being overtaken with 200 meters to go and settling for third overall in 2:12.00. The senior has already hit the regional standard of 2:09.80, so she is all set for the upcoming NCAA East Regional meet. Defending champion Christa Sawko from Bucknell won the race in 2:09.97. Eagles Ashley Dellinger and Hillary Roth placed 21st and 27th overall in 2:21.06 and 2:27.52, respectively.

Freshman Mary Moloney picked up the women's team's other point with a sixth-place finish in the 5000 meters. The freshman was clocked at 17:57 with sophomore Cathleen Ford just under 20 seconds back in 18:15, a season best.

American's lone field event competitor, Christina Wright, took 12th in both the shot put and discus throw.

The Eagles now head to the post-season with hopes of qualifying for the NCAA East Regional at the upcoming Tuppeny Twilight hosted by Villanova on the night of May 5th.