STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- The Cornell men's track and field team displayed impressive depth across the board on Saturday at the Penn State Northeast Challenge in State College. Competing against Penn State, Penn, Georgetown, Seton Hall, Rutgers, Colgate, Lock Haven and others, the Big Red came home with a new school record and two freshmen records, an event win, several alterations to the all-time top 10 lists, an impressive 17 IC4A qualifiers, and over 25 top 10 finishes.

Leading the way was freshman Nick Wade, who broke the school and freshman records in his first collegiate race in the 1000, running an outstanding 2:23.99 to place fourth in one of the toughest fields in the meet.  Joining Wade as an IC4A qualifier was senior Charlie Hatch (7th, 2:26.69, a PR), senior Owen Kimple (10th, 2:27.20) and freshman Andy Arnold (16th, 2:29.26).  Cornell also had great showings in the 800 as junior Tommy Roy PRed to place 6th in 800 with an IC4A-qualifying 1:53.73 and freshman David McCuiston ran 1:54.65 for 9th and another IC4A qualifier.  Cornell has outstanding depth this year in the long sprints as well:  sophomores Nick Huber (2nd, 48.49) and Ken McClain (7th, 48.98) both bettered the IC4A standard in the 400 in winning their heats and junior Cody Boyd was under the IC4A mark in the 500, running 1:04.98 for twelfth.  In the seldom-run 600, sophomore Brian Freitas ran one of the fastest times by a Cornellian in years, placing third in 1:19.72 with classmate Steve Wexler 8th in 1:23.59.  Not surprisingly, the relays were strong:  the 4X800 set a school freshman record in placing third in an IC4A qualifying 7:46.99 behind legs from yearlings Will McFall (1:58.3), Arnold (1:56.2), Wade (1:54.0) and McCuiston (1:58.4).  The 4X400 ran a terrific early season 3:15.35 behind legs from Huber (48.4), Boyd (48.7), Freitas (48.7) and sophomore Dan Taylor (49.2).

The Cornell men were also very strong in the field.  Senior Gary Jones was the Big Red's lone winner on the day, taking the triple jump with a mark of 50-2 3/4 (#7 all-time) while senior co-captain Duane Teixeira was second at 49-7 as both easily eclipsed the IC4A standard.  Senior Rick Zamora also had a great meet, reaching #9 all-time at Cornell with an IC4A-qualifying 16-0 3/4; junior Jason Inzana was fourth at 15-9, also clearing the IC4A standard.  In the weight throw, sophomore Bob Belden was second with a good throw of 58-4 3/4 while senior Damian Silverstrim was third at 56-6 as both qualified for the IC4As yet again. 

In addition to these efforts, Cornell had a number of other top ten showings.  Huber qualified for the 60 hurdles final with a run of 8.35 while sophomore Danny Hagberg was 10th in 8.48.  Junior Andy Arnold was 8th in the 60 in 7.12, senior Jay Pierce cleared 6-6 1/4 for third in the high jump while sophomore Chris Arlinghaus and junior Enbani Moore both cleared 6- 4 1/4 and were seventh and eighth, respectively.  Freshman Peter Roach was fifth in the pole vault at 15-3, Moore was sixth in the long jump at 21-11 and senior Julian Remouns was 8th in the triple jump at 45-10 1/2.

Complete results can be found at:
http://www.gopsusports.com/sports/c-track/stats/2009-2010/10nechallenge.html

Next up for the Big Red is the Upstate Challenge at Barton Hall on Saturday, January 23rd, a scored meet featuring Buffalo, Colgate, Cortland, Ithaca College and Syracuse.