DCCC Gets Mid-Week Boost at Haverford Meet
Haverford, PA—On a track-and-field Tuesday, eight Phantoms competed in running, jumping, and throwing events at Haverford College's Haverford Mid-Week Meet.
Seeking to qualify for Nationals in the shot put, first-year Mason Falk delivered. He placed third overall in the event, throwing 11.88m—well over the qualifying mark and a personal record (PR) by .28 meters. Falk continues to lengthen his Delaware County Community College record.
Sophomore Natalie Torres also came to the meet with eyes set on a strong performance and came away with a new personal best in the javelin throw. Her seventh-place finish in the event and mark of 18.64m also increases the school record she set two weeks ago.
Nathan Jeffers placed seventh in the shot put with a throw of 6.72m. Fellow first-year thrower Noah Gallagher was sixth in javelin with a throw of 43.11m.
On the jumps runway, Sophomores James Love and Fatumata Kaba sailed. Love jumped to a huge personal best in the long jump, placing fifth overall with a jump of 6.37m. This jump also bested his previous school record and qualified him for his third event for the National Meet in May.
"Jimmy came out and accomplished the final goal we had for him, to qualify for Nationals in the long jump," said Head Coach Cara Fordenbacher. "He has far exceeded expectations coming in and jumping this season and I am thrilled!"
Kaba followed up with a new season-best long jump of 5.01m, placing third overall and marking her first jump over five meters this season. Her PR is 5.28m, achieved in her final regular-season meet last year.
"I am thrilled with our jumps squad today," Fordenbacher said. "Jimmy and Fatu came with very specific goals and were able to execute season best performances to get them done."
On the track, Sophomore Cheyenne McCarthy ran the 800m, running to a new personal best time of 2:36.23 (8th overall) to extend her school record in the event. "I was very happy with Cheyenne's run" Fordenbacher said. "We wanted to get her out to run an 800 on fresh legs in the hope she could PR, and she did just that."
Off the mark for a second start after a timing mishap, Sophomore Daniel McLaughlin ran to a third-place finish in the 400m with a time of 55.14. "I was proud of Daniel's resilience today, not missing a beat with having to run his 400 again," said Fordenbacher.
"Overall, the Phantoms came out and truly performed to their full potential with some huge personal best performances to hit qualifying marks and others hitting new personal bests this late in the season," she said. "It was awesome to see."
The Phantoms compete for the last time during the regular track-and field season starting at 9:45am this Saturday, April 25, at the Miller Sports Construction Blue Jay Invitational at Elizabethtown College.