Phantoms End Regular Season at Etown Tuned Up and Ready for Nationals

Elizabethtown, PA—In the team's final regular-season meet, the Miller Sports Construction Blue Jay Tune-Up at Elizabethtown College, the Phantoms set 12 new personal records and four new school records while adding another National Qualifier.

 

The men's team scored 24 points and tied for a ninth-place finish overall, the highest finish for the men's team and most points scored in a meet in DCCC program history. The women's team scored 14 points and placed 11th overall.

 

Fatumata Kaba's second-place finish in the women's triple jump with a mark of 11.30m tied the Delaware County Community College record set by Taneria Bowman at the NJCAA DIII Outdoor Track and Field National Meet in 2019. Kaba jumped a school- and personal-record 5.28m to finish third in the women's long jump. "It was a great way to end the regular season and to prepare for Nationals," she said. "Everyone did great yesterday."

 

Fellow first-years Kaba and Shannalecia Edwards both recorded PRs in the 100m dash, running 13.20 and 14.44 seconds, respectively. Edwards also set a personal record in her 200m run later in the day with a time of 30.64.

 

"We had a strong showing from the women's team today," said Head Coach Cara Fordenbacher. "I was thrilled to see Shanna hit a personal best in her running events today. She worked so hard all season and her progression was apparent every week. She ended her season in the best way possible!"

 

On the men's side, Sophomore (Tre) Fred McCray claimed his second and third DCCC records of the weekend, running 10.84 in the 100m (second overall) and 22.35 in the 200m (fourth overall). "Tre is on fire! He is truly coming into his own and cementing himself in DCCC Track and Field history," Fordenbacher enthused.

 

First-year Daniel McLaughlin saw outstanding results on the day. He competed in three events, setting a new personal record and school record in the 400m IH (57.49 for third place) as well as achieving a PR and Nationals qualifying time in the 200m. "It was an incredible performance yesterday by everyone who showed up," McLaughlin said. "It was great to see some impressive personal records even in the rain, while going out with a bang." 

 

The day before, McLaughlin and McCray with Aidan Heppard and James Love had run a school-record time of 43.30 in the men's 100m relay at the 129th Penn Relays.

Daishon Billops set a new school record and personal record in the men's long jump, placing 7th overall with a jump of 6.00m. Dennis Omane-Nketia's 24.17 and Dominic Copper's 24.00 in the 200m were both PRs. "It was a really good way to end the season even though there was a little rain," Omane-Nketia said. "Everyone did really well."

"The Phantoms ended the regular season in truly historic fashion, from a first-time appearance at the Penn Relays to news coverage, and continuing to set records," said Fordenbacher. "This season has changed the tides for DCCC Track and Field in the regional and national landscape, and I couldn't be prouder of my athletes for the season they have had."

 

"My four sophomores have made a lasting impact on the program," she continued. "The freshmen have made a name for themselves and will come back next year with even more fire and drive to keep the momentum going. Up next, Nationals!"

The Phantoms will finish their season at the NJCAA DIII Outdoor Track and Field National Champion Meet hosted at Mohawk Valley Community College in Utica, NY from May 8-10. The Phantoms will be sending seven athletes on the trip to compete in eight events.