NIRCA

Delaware Ends Season Strong at NIRCA Nationals

leahgood

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

leahgood

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!

Blue Hens Shine at 48th Gary P. Lister Bottle & Cork 5K

leahgood

UD Club XCTF opened their 2024 season at the 48th Gary P. Lister Bottle & Cork Ten Miler/5K in Dewey Beach, Delaware, on Saturday, September 7, 2024. The team exceeded expectations, with many athletes delivering impressive performances.

Junior Brady Sheaffer had an exceptional race, defending his title and taking first place overall with a winning time of 16:33.8 in the 5K. Freshman Michael Colavito started his collegiate career strong with a second-place finish and a time of 17:16.3, while graduate student Michiel Van Eyck secured third in 17:22.2. Freshman Sebastiano Vandoni placed fourth with a respectable time of 17:32.4, and sophomore Ryan Healy followed in fifth at 18:03.9. Seniors Sean Bernardo (18:12.4), Michael Anderson (18:33.2), and junior Josh Pawlik (18:34.0) also secured top ten finishes, showcasing the depth of the men’s team.

On the women’s side, sophomore Ella Maletta led the pack, placing first overall in the 5K with a time of 20:36.6, successfully defending her title. Sophomore Claire Merchant closely followed in second with a time of 20:44.8, while senior Lauren Pollock secured third place, finishing in 20:48.7 and shattering her personal best. Sophomore Maddy Neyra took fourth with a time of 21:49.4, followed by Susan Kuhn in fifth with 22:00.3. Freshman Zoe Morawski finished sixth with a time of 22:05.1. The Blue Hens continued to dominate, with strong finishes from sophomores Kate Kershaw (22:11.8), Samantha Paez (22:55.1), Carly Curnutt (23:22.7), Marleigh Ballard (23:22.7), and Allison Hartman (23:22.7), all placing within the top ten.

In the 10-mile race, junior Evan Diefenbeck dominated, winning by six minutes with a time of 58:47.6. Senior Nick Smith also delivered a strong performance, finishing seventh overall with a time of 1:08:05.5.

An honorable mention goes to all of our Delaware runners who competed, the freshmen for completing their first collegiate race, and our sprinters for crushing this 5K!

Our cross-country team looks ahead to next week’s official season opener on September 14th at the DC Invite in Derwood, MD!

Full results can be found here.

Women’s team before the race.
Maddy Neyra smiling to the finish!
Brady Sheaffer leading the race.
Post-race team beach day!

Last One Fast One at Paul Kaiser Classic

leahgood

For the final meet of the season, the Delaware Club Track & Field team traveled to Shippensburg, PA, to compete in the annual Paul Kaiser Classic. Despite the challenging weather conditions, the Blue Hens showcased outstanding performances, filled with new personal bests and team records. Emotions were high as we celebrated our seniors and their remarkable achievements in their final season.

Freshman standout Autumn Williams led the charge in the Women’s 100-meters dash, finishing just 17th overall with a time of 12.95 seconds. Freshman Amanda Desenchak followed closely, clocking in at 13.83 seconds, while senior Sam Radinsky concluded her last 100m race with a time of 14.07 seconds. Sophomore Grace Wertheimer showcased her hurdling skills in the Women’s 100 Hurdles Preliminaries, securing 23rd place with a time of 19.26 seconds. Meanwhile, on the men’s side, Daren-James Seals continued to impress in the 100-meters, securing 14th place with a respectable time of 11.34 seconds, marking the second-fastest time in club history.

The Women’s 4 x 100m Relay Team A, featuring Sam Radinsky, Amanda Desenchak, Autumn Williams, and Rilee McMahan, achieved a respectable 10th place with a time of 53.40, improving their time that sits first in club history. In the Men’s 4 x 100m Relay, Team A, comprising Shane Isacson, Kurt Krummenacker, Daniel Toms, and James Winston, delivered a solid performance, securing 7th place with a time of 46.58.

The rain did not stop senior Natalie Pinto from having an impressive last collegiate 3k Steeplechase race. Pinto secured 12th place overall with a time of 14:07.90, improving her 7th place spot on the all-time list by a vast 23 seconds. Freshman Cole Donnelly continues to improve in the Men’s 3k Steeplechase securing 14th place with a time of 11:21.10, moving to 7th all-time, while freshman Nik Anna secured 15th place with a time of 11:27.26 placing just behind Donnelly on the performance list.

The Women’s 1500-meter race had an abundance of personal bests as Junior Lauren Pollock set the stage for Delaware setting a new personal record with a time of 5:38.35 and placing within the top 50. Junior Leah Goodman trailed closely, nearly matching her personal best with a time of 5:47.01 after making a comeback from injury. Freshman Kate Kershaw achieved her new personal record of 5:48.26 closing out the top 3 Blue Hens. In the Men’s 1500-meters, freshman Liam Hutchinson impressed with a solid performance, securing 34th place with a time of 4:30.69, while sophomore Evan Pawlik secured 43rd place with a time of 4:43.95.

Freshman Anna Callaghan continues her success in the Women’s 800-meters, earning 31st place with a time of 2:34.37. Natalie Pinto closed out her impressive collegiate track career with a time of 3:09.17. Sophomore Dave Kelly displayed his endurance in the Men’s 800, securing 12th place with a remarkable time of 1:56.5, ranking 5th all-time, while freshman Devan Wasserman made his 800m debut running 2:10.1. Senior Ryan Lazev concluded his inspirational collegiate career with his final individual race in the Men’s 400 meters, clocking in at 54.44 seconds. Sophomore Spencer Wheeler secured a place in the top 50 with a time of 57.01 seconds.

Amanda Desenchak maintained her momentum in the Women’s 200-meter race, claiming 50th place with a time of 29.25 seconds. Senior Sam Radinsky ended her collegiate career on a high with a time of 29.64, improving her time on the all-time list. In the Men’s 200-meters, Daren-James Seals continued to impress, finishing 19th with a time of 23.19 seconds.

In the Women’s 3k race, Lauren Pollock continues to break out, placing 6th overall with an impressive time of 12:03.16, marking a 21-second personal record and advancing her to 10th place on the performance list. Kate Kershaw also displayed improvement, securing 7th place with a new personal best time of 12:15.71.

In an electric Men’s 4 x 400m Relay, Team A, comprising Ryan Lazev, Devan Wasserman, Spencer Wheeler, and Dave Kelly, showcased their talent, securing 6th place with a time of 3:32.18. This achievement stands as the fastest time in club history, excluding teams comprising former D1 runners.

In the Women’s Long Jump, freshman Maya Morefield advanced to 7th on the performance list with a distance of 4.25 meters. Sophomore Lianna Greenstein closely followed, with her mark of 4.16 meters. Greenstein ends her successful season in the Women’s Triple Jump, earning 7th place overall with an impressive distance of 10.61 meters. Freshman Anna Callaghan showcased her throwing skill in the Women’s Discus, securing 43rd place with a season-best throw of 18.88 meters.

In the Men’s Long Jump, freshman Emmanuel Carreno leads Delaware with a jump of 5.03 meters. Senior Josiah Taylor marked his final jump with a distance of 4.82 meters. John DiOssi demonstrated his strength in the Men’s Shot Put, securing 8th place in team history with a throw of 12.08 meters. Sophomore Michael Anderson represented Delaware in both the Men’s Discus and Javelin, achieving distances of 17.87 meters and 34.47 meters, respectively.

The Paul Kaiser Classic marks the end of an incredible spring season for Delaware. As the season comes to a close, the team anticipates summer training to gear up for what’s to come in the upcoming cross-country season in the fall.

Full results can be found here.

Sam Radinsky after an incredible senior season.
The current fastest 4x400m team in club history.
Natalie Pinto racing her last 3k steeplechase.

Blue Hens Impress at NIRCA Nationals Earning All-Time Performances and All-American Recognition

leahgood

The Blue Hens made the long trek out to Richmond, VA to compete in the 2024 NIRCA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Competing against teams from all around the country, Delaware athletes did not fall short of notable performances.

Saturday’s running events were off to an exciting start in the Women’s 100m preliminaries. Freshman Autumn Williams showcased her talent, securing 6th place with an impressive time of 12.64. Advancing to the finals, she earned one of three All-American awards. Notably, Williams’s remarkable performance now stands as the fastest 100m time in team history. Freshman Amanda Desenchak showed improvement in the 100m, finishing 32nd, clocking in at 13.73. Freshman James Winston led Delaware in the Men’s 100m, finishing 36th overall, and securing the 7th fastest time in team history with a time of 11.69. Sophomore Grace Wertheimer and junior Jude Mazzola showcased their skills in the 400mH, with times of 1:22.5 and 1:11.9, respectively.

The Women’s 4x800m of Pollock, Grubb, Callaghan, and Burke secured a spot on the all-time list with their time of 11:39.5. The Men’s 4x800m teams also made their mark, with Group A (Pawlik, Sheaffer, Lobo, Kelly) securing fourth spot on the performance list with a time of 8:34.9 and Group B  (Hutchinson, Donnely, Christie, Lazev) sneaking into the 10th spot securing it with a time of 9:20.0. The Women’s 1500m showcased a series of impressive performances. Freshman Carly Curnutt placed within the top 50 and set a fast pace, clocking an impressive time of 5:39.5 to lead the Blue Hens. Sophomore Katie Burke closely followed, finishing in a respectable 5:40.8. Freshman Kate Kershaw clocked in at 5:52.5, comfortably below the 6-minute barrier. Senior and captain Daniel Giron led the pack and finished strong in the Men’s 1500m with a time of 4:34.9. Giron set a new personal best and placed 110th out of 247 competitors. Sophmore Evan Diefenbeck followed behind Giron finishing in 4:36.3. Senior Matt Scarpelli and sophomore Liam Trageser both achieved new personal records while battling at the line for the third Delaware spot. Scarpelli finished with a time of 4:38.3, closely followed by Trageser at 4:38.4, with just a tenth of a second separating them.

In the Women’s 4x100m relay, Delawares “A” team of Samantha Radinsky, Autumn Williams, Rilee McMahan, and Amanda Desenchak, showcased an impressive performance, clocking in at 54.43. Their outstanding effort secured them 7th place overall, earning an All-American award and solidifying the fastest 4x100m time in team history. The Men’s 4x100m relay team, consisting of Kurt Krummenacker, Dan Toms, Emmanuel Carreno, and Shane Isacson finished with a time of 48.17, placing 15th overall. Autumn Williams continued to shine in the Women’s 200m, qualifying for the finals with a time of 26.74 by securing 4th place in the prelims. Her impressive performance places her as the second fastest time on the team outdoor records list. In the finals, she finished 8th with a time of 26.78, successfully earning her third All-American award, becoming our most decorated athlete of the meet. Following Williams was freshman Amanda Desenchak placing 26th overall with a time of 28.75, and junior Eli Manning also placing within the top 30 crossing the finish line in 29:03. Senior Dan Toms and sophomore Kurt Krummenacker represented Delaware in the Men’s 200m both securing positions in the top 60 overall. Toms finished with a time of 24.12 with Krummenacker closely following at 24.18.

In the Women’s 400m, Ella Maletta maintained her fifth spot on the performance list finishing 24th overall with a time of 1:05.44, followed by junior Eli Manning finishing just behind placing 28th in 1:06.2. Freshman Devan Wasserman led the Men’s 400m with an impressive time of 54.68, followed closely by senior Ryan Lazev at 55.59, both placing in the top 50. Day one concluded with the the women’s 5k, but did not fall short of outstanding performances. Freshmen Natalie Greger and Kate Kershaw both set new personal records in the 5k, with Greger finishing in 20:41.3 and Kershaw in 21:11.3.

Sophomore Lianna Greenstein excelled in field events, securing 5th place overall in the triple jump and setting a new personal record with a mark of 36ft (10.9m). Her impressive performance earned Greenstein an All-American award for the triple jump, and still sits at the top of the all-time list.

Kicking off day two was sophomore Matthew Kwiatkowski’s men’s 5k time of 15:37.3, overtaking the 10th spot on the all-time list and setting a new personal record. Grace Wertheimer maintained her fifth spot on the performance list in the Women’s 100m hurdles with a time of 19.27. Ella Maletta and Anna Callaghan shined for Delaware in the Women’s 800m, with Maletta taking 11th overall finishing in 2:29.5 and Callaghan placing 28th in 2:36.2. Dave Kelly led the charge for the Men’s 800m also placing 11th overall with a respectable time of 1:58.9. Freshman Ryan Healy and sophomore Evan Pawlik rounded out the top three for Delaware finishing in 2:10.0 and 2:11.5 respectively. Sophmore Katie Burke showcased her skills in the Women’s 3k steeple, placing 9th overall with a time of 12:43.9, which improves her previous time and moves her up to third all-time on the team in the event.

In the 4×4 relays, both the Delaware Men’s and Women’s teams delivered solid performances, In the Women’s 4x400m relay, the Delaware “A” team of Eli Manning, Grace Wertheimer, Aine Grubb, and Anna Callaghan finished in the top 20 with a time of 4:43.5, and now holds seventh fastest 4x4oom time in team history. In the Men’s 4x400m relay, the Delaware “A” team composed of Ryan Lazev, Devan Wasserman, Josh Pawlik, and Spencer Wheeler finished in 3:39.7, placing them ninth on the performance list.

Delaware showcased their skill and dedication, earning multiple All-American awards and achieving new personal records. The Blue Hens will continue working hard to prepare for our inaugural Blue Hen Invitational on April 20th, located on our home turf in Newark, DE.

Full results can be found here.

Burke racing the 3k steeplechase.
Delaware team photo at NIRCA Nationals.
Our most decorated athlete, Autumn Williams.