Delaware

Delaware Dominates at Second Annual Blue Hen Invitational

leahgood

The second annual Blue Hen Invitational, held on April 19th in Newark, Delaware, was a standout day for the University of Delaware Club Track and Field team. With increased team participation and strong support from alumni and current members, the home meet brought excitement, personal bests, and record-setting performances across a wide range of events.

The women’s 5k was a standout distance event, with senior Lauren Pollock running 18:56.24 to break 19 minutes for the first time, finish second, and move to fourth-fastest in club history. Sophomore Kate Kershaw followed with a personal best of 20:04.10, finishing sixth overall. Seniors Hannah Pash and Natalie Greger ran together and crossed the line hand in hand in 24:21.07. On the men’s side, junior Evan Diefenbeck ran an impressive 15:36.01 to grab tenth on the all-time list by just one second. Freshman Aiden Loy followed with a time of 17:49.03 to place 14th, while sophomore John Healy finished 15th in 18:06.83.

Delaware’s sprinters had a standout day in the relays, highlighted by the women’s 4x100m A team of Rilee McMahan, Amanda Desenchak, Grace Wertheimer, and Gianna Dowling, who sprinted to a 54.43 finish, tying for second-fastest in club history. On the men’s side, the 4x100m team of Kurt Krummenacker, Michael Obode, James Winston, and Parker Small put together a strong race to finish in 45.35, placing them fourth on the all-time performance list. The women’s distance 4x100m squad of Claire Merchant, Kate Kershaw, Lauren Pollock, and Gabriella Maletta also contributed with a 1:04.71 finish.

Sprinters continued their success with sophomore Amanda Desenchak, who placed second in the women’s 100m with a time of 13.6. In the men’s 100m, Michael Obode placed second in 11.70, tying for ninth in club history. Daren James Seals ran 11.94 for third, and Kurt Krummenacker followed in 11.99 to round out the top five.

In the 800m, freshman Zoe Morawski ran 2:31.56 to win the women’s race and earn the tenth spot on the performance list with a season best. Sophomore Ella Maletta placed fourth in the 800m with a time of 2:43.89, followed by seniors Leah Goodman and Aine Grubb in fifth and sixth. Both seniors closed out the race with season bests, as Goodman ran 2:45.50 and Grubb crossed the line in 2:57.87. On the men’s side, senior Michael Anderson also ran a season best of 2:01.61, ending his season on a high note. Junior Josh Pawlik followed in 2:05.03, with sophomore Devan Wasserman close behind in 2:06.09. Freshman Giovanni Palermo rounded out the top 15 with a 2:07.91.

In the 400m, Rasi-Tael Joshua broke the club record with a winning time of 1:01.60. Sophomore Anna Callaghan followed in 1:05.80, moving her to seventh on the performance list. For the men, freshman Parker Small led with a 54.69, followed by sophomore James Winston in 56.35 and junior Spencer Wheeler in 56.36.

Since most outdoor meets run the 1500m, the Blue Hen Invitational included the 1600m instead, contributing new performances to the club’s 1600m performance list. Sophomore Claire Merchant led the women with a personal best of 5:33.21, earning third place overall and setting the fastest time in club history. Lauren Pollock notched her second PR of the day, running 5:39.87 for sixth. Sophomore Kate Kershaw also finished under six minutes in 5:55.40. Seniors Amanda Ciaramella and Emily Sposato wrapped up their collegiate careers in 7:32.3 and 7:36.68, respectively. On the men’s side, junior Dave Kelly now sits atop the 1600m leaderboard with a time of 4:15.00. He was followed by junior Matthew Kwiatkowski in 4:31.11, Evan Pawlik in 4:47.20, and sophomore Cole Donnelly in 4:50.19.

In the women’s 200m, Rasi-Tael Joshua won in 27.58, tying her for third on the club’s performance list. Amanda Desenchak placed third in 28.42. In the women’s 4x400m, the A team of Morawski, Pollock, Maletta, and Callaghan ran 4:44.13 for second place, which moved them up to tenth all-time. The B team of Erika Danysh, Aine Grubb, Leah Goodman, and Grace Wertheimer finished in 5:06.78. On the men’s side, the A team of Wheeler, Wasserman, Small, and Pawlik clocked 3:49.71 for fifth place, while the B team of Lazev, Healy, Simonini, and Aks followed in 3:58.84.

In the field events, junior Gianna Dowling cleared 4-10 (1.47m) in the women’s high jump to take first place and move into second on the club’s all-time performance list. Lianna Greenstein placed fourth in the same event with a jump of 4-06 (1.37m), which also ranks fourth in club history. In the women’s long jump, Greenstien placed second with a jump of 4.62m, followed by Dowling in third at 4.13m. On the men’s side, senior Gavin Looram matched Greenstein’s mark with a 4.62m jump. Greenstein went on to win the women’s triple jump with a jump of 10.29m.

The day concluded with the signature 4x200m chocolate milk relay, a Delaware club classic. With more teams competing, the second Blue Hen Invitational was a huge success. The team now turns its focus to the Paul Kaiser Classic at Shippensburg University on Saturday, April 26, for the final meet of the season!

Full results can be found here.

Hannah Pash and Natalie Greger finishing their 5k together.
Gianna Dowling in the high jump.
Delaware leading in the mile.

Delaware Shines at Club Penn Relays with Record-Breaking Performances and Relay Wins

leahgood

Delaware Club Track and Field competed at the 2025 Club Penn Relays on April 13th, returning to the iconic Franklin Field in Philadelphia to race across seven relays. With standout performances across both men’s and women’s teams, including a new club record and multiple wins, Delaware made a strong mark in one of the most exciting meets of the season.

For the first time ever, Delaware competed in a mixed 4×800-meter relay. With six teams in total, everyone earned a spot on the performance list. Delaware C set the bar high, finishing in first place in a new club record of 9:21.89. The team of Michael Anderson, Zoe Morawski, Claire Merchant, and Dave Kelly posted a time that would have ranked tenth all-time among men’s 4×800 squads. Delaware A also put together a strong showing, earning fourth place with a time of 10:08.59 behind solid legs from Devan Wasserman, Leah Goodman, Giovanni Palermo, and Lauren Pollock.

In the sprint medley relay, the women’s team of Grace Wertheimer, Lianna Greenstein, Ava Lomax, and Anna Callaghan placed second with a time of 6:14, securing a spot on the miscellaneous performance list. On the men’s side, Gavin Looram, Michael Obode, Parker Small, and Spencer Wheeler finished fourth overall in 4:23.3, also a notable addition to the performance list.

The 4×1600 meter was another highlight for our distance crew. The women took first place with an impressive performance of 24:47.15, led by Lauren Pollock, Kate Kershaw, Izzy Kehoe-Huck, and Katie Burke. On the men’s side, Delaware A placed second in 19:45.04, as Sebastiano Vandoni, Giovanni Palermo, Evan Pawlik, and Ryan Healy all raced well. Delaware C followed close behind, taking third in 20:33.20 with efforts from John Healy, Nik Anna, Cole Donnelly, and Sean Simonini.

In the 4×200 meter relay, the women clocked a time of 2:17.16, which included a team of Anna Callaghan, Amanda Desenchek, Lauren Pollock, and Ava Lomax. The men’s team had a close finish, with the team of James Winston, Devan Wasserman, Dave Kelly, and Kurt Krummenacker narrowly securing first place in 1:35.14. A second Delaware squad of Michael Obode, Parker Small, Spencer Wheeler, and Gavin Looram finished in 1:49.11.

Three Blue Hen teams swept the women’s DMR. Delaware A, comprising Claire Merchant, Emily Sposato, Leah Goodman, and Lauren Pollock, won the event in 14:55.32, marking the second-fastest time in club history. Delaware B followed just behind in 15:26.97 with Kate Kershaw, Ava Lomax, Izzy Kehoe-Huck, and Katie Burke, while Delaware C rounded out the sweep with a time of 16:36.27 from Natalie Greger, Aine Grubb, Zoe Morawski, and Hannah Pash. On the men’s side, Delaware A also secured the win in 11:22.5, good for fifth all time, thanks to Evan Pawlik, Josh Pawlik, Michael Anderson, and Sebastiano Vandoni. Delaware B, featuring Aidan Loy, Dylan Aks, Jack Pelczar, and Michael Colavito, ran a solid 12:06.75.

In the 4×100 meter relays, the women’s team of Rilee McCmahan, Aine Grubb, Grace Wertheimer, and Amanda Desenchek finished in 58.34. The men’s team, consisting of James Winston, Michael Obode, Parker Small, and Kurt Krummenacker, put on an impressive performance, winning their heat with a time of 46.60, which placed them tenth on the all-time list.

The day concluded with the fun and creative’ Anything but a Baton’ 4×400 meter relay. Delaware’s women’s squad of Erika Danysh, Aine Grubb, Grace Wertheimer, and Lauren Pollock took the win in 4:38.31, and won the Best Baton Award with blue hen Dave Kelly being passed on each leg. The men’s team of Kurt Krummenacker, Aravind Arunachalam, Sean Simonini, and Ryan Healy took second in 4:01.92.

The team enjoyed another chance to compete at the historic Franklin Field and is now excited to carry that momentum into their next meet. Delaware will return to its home track for the Blue Hen Invitational on April 19th in Newark, Delaware.

Full results can be found here.

Mixed 4x800m winners.
Men’s 4x200m relay.
Women’s 4x100m relay.
Mixed 4x400m relay!

Both Men and Women Place in the Top Five at the Lloyd Sigler Spring Meet

leahgood

The Delaware club track team had a strong showing at the Lloyd Sigler Spring Classic on March 8 in Salisbury, Maryland, with athletes setting personal bests and moving up the club’s all-time lists. The men’s team finished third overall, while the women placed fourth. Despite challenging windy conditions, the team performed well and continues to build momentum for the rest of the season.

In the sprints, sophomore James Winston ran 11.59 in the 100m, finishing 12th overall and reaching fifth on the club’s all-time list. Junior Kurt Krummenacker ran an 11.96 to place in the top 15, while sophomore Michael Obode followed with a 12.37. Sophomore Amanda Desenchak finished eighth in the women’s 100m in 13.34, just 0.1 seconds shy of her personal record. In the 200m Winston clocked 24.52 as freshman Parker Small crossed the line in 25.45 and sophomore Obode finished close behind in 25.79. Desenchak returned to run 28.63 in the 200m for a sixth-place finish. Freshman Parker Small continued in the 400m, finishing in 56.20, with junior Spencer Wheeler rounding out the event at 1:00.0. On the women’s side, senior Eli Manning led for Delaware, running a 1:12.8.

Our hurdlers had their opportunity, with sophomore Ryan Healy recording 1:12.03 in the 400m hurdles while junior Grace Wertheimer improved her previous mark by over a second, finishing in 1:20.6. Wertheimer also led the 100m hurdles for Delaware with a time of 19.26.

Blue Hens showed their depth in the middle-distance events. In the 800m, junior Dave Kelly won in 1:56.91, solidifying his fifth spot on the club’s all-time list, while junior Josh Pawlik and sophomore Dylan Aks finished in 2:11 and 2:12, respectively, both finishing within the top ten. On the women’s side, sophomore Claire Merchant placed sixth in 2:42.8 as freshman Zoe Morawski followed in 2:49.1, and Katie Burke secured a top 15 finish in 2:54.4.

Brady Sheaffer put up a strong performance in the 1500m, securing fifth place with a time of 4:23.86. Not far behind, Evan Pawlik crossed the line in 4:41.01, contributing to a solid showing for the blue hens. Senior Aravind Arunachalam at 4:41.12, and junior Alejandro Lobo made a spring debut in 4:44.40 to secure a top-ten finish. Senior Lauren Pollock set a personal record of 5:37.49 to finish fifth on the women’s side, followed by freshman Zoe Morawski in 5:37.97 and sophomore Kate Kershaw in 5:42.09, also earning a personal best.

Brady Sheaffer also delivered a strong performance in the 5K, finishing in fourth place with a time of 16:03.3. Freshman Michael Colavito secured a top-ten finish in 16:52.2, while Ryan Healy wrapped up the top three for Delaware in 18:24.9. On the women’s side Pollock finished third overall in 19:35.26, bumping her up to ninth on the club’s performance list with Kate Kershaw finishing fourth in 20:40.59. Freshman Izzy Kehoe Huck made her track debut with a sixth place finish in 21:25.31 and sophomore Natalie Greger closing for the hens in 21:50.4. Junior Katie Burke clocked 13:09.8 in the 3K steeplechase, while on the men’s side, sophomore Cole Donnelly ran an improved time of 11:42.40. Freshman Patch Lant followed at 11:46, with Aiden Loy finishing in 11:50.11 and sophomore Nik Anna rounding out the group in 11:59.62.

Relay events were a highlight for the Blue Hens, with the men’s 4×100m team of Krummenacker, Obode, Small, and Winston running 45.91, the fifth-fastest time in club history. The 4×400m squad of Kelly, Wheeler, Small, and Healy also put together a solid race, finishing in 3:50.49.

In the field events, senior Gavin Looram advanced the team’s mark in the long jump with a leap of 4.5 meters. Junior Lianna Greenstein not only recorded a long jump of 4.60 meters but also showcased her versatility by finishing second in the triple jump with her mark of 10.68 meters.

The team is now shifting focus to the NIRCA Nationals, which are set for April 5-6 in Richmond, VA!

Full results can be found here.

Delaware men’s 4x100m relay team.

Kate Kershaw during her 5k.

Outdoor Season Opener at Capital Relays

leahgood

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

leahgood

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.