The Blue Hens competed in yet another NIRCA National Championships this past weekend! The team traveled to Oxford, OH and competed at the University of Miami. With club records, top all-time performances, personal bests, and more, this weekend had it all. Results are available here.

In the women’s sprints, Brittany Georges achieved All-American status in both the 100m and 200m. In the 100m, Georges ran 13.48 in the finals for 4th place, and in the 200m, Georges was 3rd in the nation with a time of 26.61. This is the third year in a row that she has scored in both the 100m and 200m at Nationals. Alissa Niedzielski also competed in the 100m and 200m, where she entered the top ten all-time performance list for both: a #7 14.52 in the 100m, and a #5 30.18 in the 200m.

Freshman Kayliegh Miedriech competed in the high jump where she was an All-American. Miedriech was the runner-up, clearing 1.48m–she also broke her own club record. Miedriech also entered the performance list for the 100m hurdles, where she finished in 20.46 for 3rd all-time.

For the distance runners, Molly Doyle broke the club record in the 3000m steeplechase–her 12:24.58 earned her 8th place overall. Allison Einig and Kendra Cutler also competed, improving their times on the performance list. Einig improved her #3 all-time mark to 13:11.68, and Cutler improved her #4 all-time mark to 13:22.33. In the 5000m, Talia Brookstein-Burke ran 20:22.05, which would have earned her #10 all-time had Doyle not run a 19:25.81 immediately after, good for #4 all-time.

The women’s 4x800m composed of Emma Bateman, Elise LaFramboise, Emily Hansell, and Haley Reid placed 6th overall in 10:33.31, the second-fastest time in club history. Reid also improved her #9 all-time 1500m mark to 5:10.93. Another 4x800m with Einig, Mara Crispin, Emma Lesnevich, and Lydia Izzo ran a #6 all-time 11:33.26.

For the men, Greg Biddle competed in the 200m where he ran a 23.31. This is the third-fastest time in club history as well as the fastest time a team member has run in seven years. Biddle also competed in the 400m, where he moved up in the performance list to #6 with his 51.93.

Also in the 400m, Matt Ward moved up to #8 with a time of 52.40. Ward competed in the long jump where his 5.58m mark earned him #7 all-time. Also in the long jump was Drew Huffer, who improved his #10 mark to 5.46m.

On the distance side, the team saw great success in the 5000m. Mike Durkin ran a personal best of 15:18.66, good for #4 all-time. Durkin finished 12th, just outside All-American status. Brandon Holveck also competed, running 15:29.77 and placing 15th. These are the two fastest times the club has seen since 2017. Evan Massa also ran a personal best of 16:33.26. In the 3000m steeplechase, Evan Driscoll moved up to #5 in the performance list with a time of 11:11.94, and Pisey Yun improved his #7 all-time mark to 12:05.17.

In the men’s 4x400m relay, Pat LaPorte, Jayke Marsh, Brandon Holveck, and Sean Goodwin competed but did not receive a time due to technical errors. Regardless, their hand time of 3:44 is good for #8 all-time. Goodwin also competed in the 1500m, where he ran a personal best of 4:28.60. Additionally, the club president is now 2/2 for not leaving people at Nationals!

It was overall a successful weekend for the Blue Hens. Next, we will be turning to the Widener Invitational this upcoming weekend in Chester, PA. With photography from Evan Driscoll, Talia Brookstein-Burke, Allison Einig, Emily Hansell, and Matt Ward, pictures are below: