Outdoor Season Opener at Capital Relays

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The Delaware club track team opened its 2025 outdoor season with a strong showing at Capital Relays on February 23rd, hosted by American University in Washington, D.C. The Blue Hens delivered standout performances across multiple events, with the women’s team placing second with 67 points and the men’s team finishing third with 79 points. Although the meet was hand-timed, several athletes made their way onto the club’s all-time performance list.

In the sprints, sophomore Amanda Desenchak ran 13.12 in the 100m, placing third overall and moving up two-tenths on the club’s all-time list. On the men’s side, sophomore Michael Obode clocked an impressive 11.47 to finish fourth, while junior Kurt Krummenacker ran 11.62, claiming the fifth-fastest performance on record. Krummenacker delivered a strong performance in the 200m, placing second overall with a time of 24.00. Obode also competed in the event, clocking 24.81 to finish just behind the top contenders. On the women’s side, Desenchak posted a solid 27.81, demonstrating her speed across multiple sprint events. Junior Lianna Greenstein rounded out the performance with a 29.97, securing the ninth-fastest time in club history and adding another personal milestone to the team’s successful outing.

Blue Hens performed well in the distance events at their outdoor debut. In the men’s 5K, Brady Sheaffer led for Delaware with a time of 15:46 for a third overall finish, while Evan Diefenbeck (16:30) and Aravind Arunachalam (18:27) followed close behind. On the women’s side, Lauren Pollock ran 19:54 for second overall, setting a new personal record and placing 10th on the club’s all-time list, followed by Kate Kershaw with a personal best of 20:25 and Hannah Pash in 23:41. Continuing to the 1600m junior Evan Pawlik led the group by breaking the five-minute barrier for the first time with a time of 4:56. Sophomore Ryan Healy followed closely behind in 4:58, with sophomore Cole Donnelly finishing in 5:03 and freshman Aiden Loy crossing in 5:05. In the women’s race, sophomore Claire Merchant finished top 15 finishers with a time of 5:55. Katie Burke had another successful race finishing in 6:05. Junior Natalie Greger completed the event in 6:41, rounding out a solid showing for Delaware’s distance squad.

The 800m showcased the team’s depth, with junior Dave Kelly leading the way, taking first place in 1:56, the fifth-fastest time in club history. Senior Michael Anderson, returning from injury, delivered a strong performance with a 2:06 finish, followed by junior Josh Pawlik at 2:09. Evan Pawlik, Dylan Aks, and Giovanni Palermo all clocked times under 2:15, demonstrating the team’s depth in the middle-distance events. On the women’s side, sophomore Anna Callaghan and freshman Zoe Morawski both ran 2:37, with junior Katie Burke following in 2:47.

Relay events were a highlight for the Blue Hens. The men’s distance medley relay team, consisting of Josh Pawlik, Parker Small, Michael Anderson, and Dave Kelly, took first place with a time of 11:04, marking the fourth-fastest performance in club history. The women’s DMR team, made up of Kate Kershaw, Grace Wertheimer, Natalie Greger, and Aine Grubb, finished in 16:07. The men’s 4×100 relay team, including Brady Sheaffer, Michael Obode, Parker Small, and Kurt Krummenacker, clocked in at 49.06, while the women’s 4×100 team, featuring Amanda Desenchak, Ava Lomax, Gianna Dowling, and Grace Wertheimer, finished at 59.18. The men’s sprint medley relay, with Spencer Wheeler, Kurt Krummenacker, Parker Small, and Sean Simonini, completed their race in 4:21. Lastly, a mixed 4×400 relay, which featured a unique baton exchange with chocolate milk, finished with a time of 6:05.

In a special club debut event, the Jeans Mile delivered impressive performances. In the men’s mile, freshman Sebastiano Vandoni recorded an impressive 4:55 for fourth overall, with freshman Michael Colavito running 5:11 and senior Aravind Arunachalam clocking 5:17. On the women’s side, Claire Merchant and Lauren Pollock crossed the line side by side in a time of 6:41.

The Capital Relays performances displayed a promising start to the outdoor season, as multiple athletes set personal bests and moved up on the club’s all-time performance lists. Delaware looks to carry this momentum at the Lloyd Sigler Spring Classic on March 8th in Salisbury, MD!

Full results can be found here.

Dave Kelly and Michael Anderson leading the 800m.

Lauren Pollock and Claire Merchant during their jeans mile!

Michael Obode in his 100m.

Indoor Season Finale at Frank Colden Invitational

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The Delaware club track team wrapped up its 2025 indoor season with a strong showing at the Frank Colden Invitational on February 8 at Ursinus College in Collegeville, PA. The Blue Hens continued to impress with personal bests, standout performances, and new improvements on the club’s all-time performance list.

In the sprints, sophomore Amanda Desenchak led the blue hens in the women’s 60m dash with a time of 8.73. On the men’s side, sophomore James Winston clocked 7.51, with sophomore Michael Obode following in 7.69 and junior Kurt Krummenacker following in 7.84. Junior Grace Wertheimer ran 11.51 in the 60m hurdles, moving up to third on the club’s all-time list. In the 200m, Desenchak ran 28.80 to cap off a solid meet, while Winston led the men with a 24.10, followed by Krummenacker in 25.14. Junior Lianna Greenstein continued her success in the field events and competed in the triple jump, landing a mark of 10.14m.

The 400m had more strong performances, with sophomore Anna Callaghan running 1:08.30 to earn the fifth-fastest time in club history. Sophomore Erika Danysh made her indoor debut with a 1:14.44. For the men, freshman Parker Small ran 54.82, with Ryan Healy following in 57.18. Mid-distance events brought more highlights. In the 800m, Callaghan ran 2:49, while senior Leah Goodman finished in 2:53. Senior Michael Anderson led the men’s 800m with a 2:08.11, followed by Giovanni Palermo in 2:11.62 and sophomore Dylan Aks in 2:16.40.

Delaware had many runners take on the mile. Sophomore Claire Merchant led the women with an impressive 5:49.10, with sophomore Kate Kershaw finishing just above 6 minutes in 6:02.30. Leah Goodman added a 6:26.70 to her day, while sophomore Ava Lomax broke the eight-minute barrier in her debut with a 7:49. For the men, sophomore John Healy ran 5:20.90, while senior Caden McHenry and freshman Shawn Ingwer finished in 5:31.39 and 5:42.13, respectively.

The distance races continued the team’s strong showing as senior Lauren Pollock set a new personal best in the 3000m with 11:12.59, while Kershaw broke 12 minutes for the first time with 11:57.80. In the men’s 3000m, junior Brady Sheaffer led for the men and ran a fast 9:03.30, followed by freshman Aiden Loy (10:16.24) and sophomore Alex McBreen (11:00). In the 5000m, sophomore Natalie Greger led the women with 21:54.31, followed by seniors Hannah Pash (23:39.77) and Aine Grubb (25:33.16). Junior Evan Diefenbeck ran 16:27.80 in the men’s 5000m to earn the ninth-fastest time in club history, with freshman Sebastiano Vandoni (17:01.30) and sophomores Cole Donnelly (18:26.14) and Ethan Storm (18:51.65) rounding out the event.

The meet ended with strong relay performances. The women’s 4x400m team of Callaghan, Wertheimer, Merchant, and Pollock ran 4:52.07 to place fifth on the all-time list. The men’s 4x400m capped off the day for Delaware with a team of Wheeler, Pawlik, Pawlik, and Small finished in 3:56.16.

The Frank Colden Invitational was a great way to close out the indoor season, with athletes stepping up across all events. The Blue Hens now turn their focus to the outdoor season, where they are ready to keep the momentum going at the annual Capital Relays on February 23rd!

Full results can be found here.

Seniors Hannah Pash and Aine Grubb in the 5k.
Delaware men starting their mile.
Junior Lianna Greenstein in triple jump.

Blue Hens in January: Spartan Invitational & Collegeville Classic

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The Delaware club track team kicked off the new year in the best way with the start of their 2025 indoor track season! Their season began with the Spartan Invitational on January 10 at Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in Staten Island, NY, followed by an impressive performance at the Collegeville Classic Invitational on January 19 at Ursinus College in Collegeville, PA. Our Blue Hens kicked off the season strong, whether building on their cross-country experience or sprinters getting back on track, with personal records, standout performances, and new spots earned on the club’s performance lists.

At the Spartan Invitational, our sprinters, hurdlers, and jumpers kicked off the meet with impressive results. In the 60m hurdles, Junior Grace Wertheimer ran a fast 11.69. Sophomore Amanda Desenchak delivered a standout performance in the 60m dash with a time of 8.57, which earns her the fifth-fastest runner in Delaware’s history. Desenchak continued her strong meet with a 28.90 in the women’s 200m. On the men’s side, sophomore James Winston led the 60m dash in 7.52, followed by a solid season debut from junior Kurt Krummenacker (7.72). Junior Lianna Greenstein jumped 4.67m, further solidifying her position at the top for Delaware jumpers. As the meet went on, there were more impressive performances in the 200m for the hens. Sophomore James Winston led the men in the 200m with a 24.11, with junior Krummenacker (24.61) and freshman Parker Small (24.92) closing out their 2025 season debut.

In distance events, sophomore Sean Simonini clocked a 10:37.80 in the men’s 3k, while senior Lauren Pollock ran a strong new personal best of 11:25 in the women’s race. On the men’s side, Giovanni Palermo led for Delaware with a time of 4:56.55, as sophomore Nik Anna followed and achieved a new personal milestone of breaking the five-minute barrier for the first time with a 4:57.18. Evan Pawlik followed closely at 5:01.21. In the women’s mile, Lauren Pollock ran 5:47.25, earning her the 9th spot on the all-time list. Sophomore Claire Merchant (5:55.83) and junior Kaitlyn Burke (6:09.46) also competed well against tough competition.

Relays were another exciting highlight of the day. The women’s 4x200m relay team of Amanda Desenchak, Grace Wertheimer, Ava Lomax, and Lianna Greenstein finished in 2:05.14, securing 5th on the all-time for Delaware women. The men’s distance medley relay team of Shawn Ingwer, Giovanni Palermo, Michael Colavito, and Sebastiano Vandoni ran 12:13.29, earning 8th on the list, while the women’s DMR team of Katie Burke, Grace Wertheimer, Claire Merchant, and Lauren Pollock ran 14:21.24, became second fastest team ever for the Blue Hens.

In the mid-distance events, senior Aine Grubb shined in the women’s 500m with a time of 1:49.68, making her the first Delaware woman to claim the top spot on the performance list. On the men’s side, sophomore Devan Wasserman ran a season opener of 54.0 in the 400m, followed by Parker Small at 55.79. The men’s 800m featured a huge personal best from sophomore Dylan Aks (2:11.44), alongside strong races from junior Josh Pawlik (2:09.38) and sophomore Giovanni Palermo (2:13.96). The women’s 800m highlighted freshman Zoe Morawski leading with a 2:46.10, followed by Kaitlyn Burke (2:50.67) and senior Leah Goodman (2:52.39). Indoor distances continue with the men’s 1000m, freshman Sebastiano Vandoni finished in 2:50.86, while sophomore John Healy crossed the line in 3:03.53 after battling an injury.

The team carried its momentum into the Collegeville Classic, although a small squad, was nothing short of special! Freshman Zoe Morawski opened the meet with a strong 1000m performance, finishing in 3:28.85. Senior Lauren Pollock also had a successful day, running 5:51.4 in the mile and setting another new personal best in the 3k at 11:16.98. In the men’s 1000m, senior Michael Anderson clocked a 3:06.5, while junior Dave Kelly delivered one of the day’s highlights with a 4:23.9 in the mile, earning him 8th on the club’s all-time performance list—a spot that hadn’t changed in over a decade.

These back-to-back meets showcased the team’s talent, with athletes stepping up in every event. From sprints to distance races and relays, the University of Delaware Club XCTF team is ready for their final meet of the indoor season at the Frank Colden Invitational at Ursinus College on February 8th.

Full results can be found here and here.

Amanda Desenchak winning her 60m race.

Nik Anna breaking five minutes in the mile.

Delaware Ends Season Strong at NIRCA Nationals

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The Delaware Club Cross Country team concluded their season at the 2024 NIRCA Nationals on Saturday, November 9th, at the hilly Hershey Parkview XC Course in Hershey, PA. Despite the difficult course, Delaware athletes embraced the lively atmosphere, capping off their season with strong performances and emotional finishes.

The day began with the Women’s Junior/Senior 6k, where senior Hannah Pash led the Blue Hens, crossing the finish line in 29:30. Pash celebrated a strong ending to her cross-country career. Senior Leah Goodman, battling back from illness, finished her last race in 32:27. Senior Aine Grubb wrapped up her cross-country journey in 33:27, marking an emotional end to her season. Seniors Emily Sposato (34:50) and Amanda Ciaramella (35:10) worked together throughout the race, pushing each other to finish their final collegiate races on a high note.

In the Men’s Junior/Senior 8k, senior Caden MacHenry led Delaware with a time of 34:32, closing out his senior season. Junior Liam Trageser followed with a strong effort of 36:54, while senior Joe Raziano wrapped up his cross-country career with a time of 39:40. Junior Ian Levine also had a strong finish, completing the race in 45:03.

Delaware’s men’s and women’s teams both earned spots in the championship races after impressive performances at Regionals. The Women’s Championship 6k was led by senior Lauren Pollock, who ended her incredible season with a standout time of 25:57 on the tough Hershey course. Sophomore Claire Merchant followed with a strong performance, finishing in 27:02, highlighting her success this season. Junior Jade Barrett crossed the line in 27:23, concluding another consistent season. Freshman Zoe Morawski (27:56) and sophomore Kate Kershaw (28:07) crossed the line back to back with respectable times. Sophomores Marleigh Ballard (28:32) and Natalie Greger (28:45) rounded out Delaware’s top seven with notable performances to conclude their sophomore seasons.

In the Men’s Championship 8k, junior Brady Sheaffer led for Delaware with an impressive time of 27:09, concluding his dominant season. Junior Evan Diefenbeck followed closely with a strong finish in 28:08. Freshmen Sebastiano Vandoni (28:41) and Michael Colavito (28:57) closed their standout debut seasons with impressive times, showcasing their potential and promising future. Junior Dave Kelly (29:14) broke 30 minutes on the difficult course, while junior Josh Pawlik rounded out the team, finishing a successful season in 30:55.

Delaware’s underclassman women’s 6k delivered more notable performances on the challenging course. Sophomore Alli Hartman led the Blue Hens, crossing the line in 28:38. Sophomore Erika Danysh followed, breaking the 30-minute mark with a time of 29:51, while Greta Bretz was close behind at 30:00. Sophomore Anna Callaghan ended her sophomore season with a time of 31:13, and freshman Caroline O’Neill rounded out Delaware’s top five with a solid finish of 31:58.

In the underclassman men’s 8k, sophomore Sean Simonini had a breakout race, leading Delaware with a time of 31:44. Sophomore Dylan Aks showed his hard work paying off, finishing next at 31:53. Freshman Aiden Loy was not far behind, crossing the line in 31:56, while freshman Max Gillen impressed with his time of 32:26. Sophomore Cole Donnelly rounded out Delaware’s top five underclassman men with a strong finish of 32:41.

A notable mention for Coach Mark Keese and junior Jack Pelczar, who ran the open 6k and crossed the line together in 33:03 creating a core memory for both of them and the team!

Although Delaware’s cross-country season has come to an end, the team is already looking ahead to the winter and spring track seasons!

Full results can be found here.

Senior Aine Grubb during her race.
Senior Caden MacHenry during his race.
Our 2024 NIRCA Nationals team!

Delaware Men and Women Earn Top 10 Finish with Individual Highlights

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On October 19, 2024, the Delaware Club Cross Country team competed at the NIRCA Mid-Atlantic Regionals, at Lehigh University. Both the men’s and women’s teams placed 8th, with the men averaging 27:27 for the 8k, and the women 25:34 for the 6k. This achievement qualifies both teams for the varsity championship races at NIRCA Nationals in Hershey, PA, on November 8th and 9th.

Junior Brady Sheaffer and Senior Lauren Pollock continue to lead, each earning individual qualifying spots for Nationals. Brady Sheaffer placed 21st in the men’s race with a personal best of 26:28, which now ranks him 4th on Lehigh’s all-time performance list. Lauren Pollock secured 17th place in the women’s race with a huge personal best of 24:02, making her the third-fastest runner on the Lehigh course for Club XCTF and the fifth-fastest 6K performer in club history.

In the women’s 6k the Blue Hens were led by Lauren Pollock and her impressive performance, followed by Sophomore Claire Merchant, who clocked a personal best of 25:00. Freshman Zoe Morawski followed and ran a new personal best of 26:08. Junior Jade Barrett was next for Delaware finishing in 26:18.70. Sophomores Kate Kershaw and Marleigh Ballard broke the 27-minute barrier with their times of 26:22.9 and 26:32.2 respectively. Sophomore Natalie Greger completed the top 7 for the Blue Hens, setting a personal best of 26:35.7.

Brady Sheaffer led Delaware in the men’s 8k team, while junior Dave Kelly ran a personal best of 27:25.4 to finish second for Delaware. Junior Evan Diefenbeck was right behind in 27:28, followed by Freshman Sebastiano Vandoni, who impressed with a time of 27:50.7. Freshman Michael Colavito ran a solid 28:06, while Juniors Josh and Evan Pawlik finished together with times of 29:35.2 and 29:36.5, respectively, both breaking the 30-minute mark. Sophomore Ryan Healy also broke the 30-minute barrier with a personal best of 29:46.5.

Delaware demonstrated the results of their training throughout the season, with many runners achieving personal bests. As they prepare for NIRCA Nationals in Hershey, PA, on November 8th and 9th, the team is excited to finish their fall season strong!

Full results can be found here.

Brady Sheaffer leading the Blue Hens.
Jade Barrett finishing strong.
Women’s team pre-race.
Team photo at Regionals!