EMMITSBURG, Md. (February 3, 2024) – Freshman
Justin Sluijter broke the Mount St. Mary's indoor long jump record Saturday, one of many highlights for the team who participated in meets at Penn State and Liberty.
Sluijter competed at the Sykes & Sabock Challenge in State College, where he set a new mark for the event by logging a distance of 7.51 meters for a decisive victory. The accomplishment overtook a record that stood for 37 years, previously held by Carlos O'Connell at 7.46 meters and set in December 1986. Sluijter's distance is also top among Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) performers this season.
Arran Fahey was also victorious in Happy Valley, winning the pole vault at 4.90 meters. That height came within .03 meters of his MAAC-leading distance.
Emelie Beckman came in fourth for the women's pole vault, and her 3.85 meter height also serves as the best for MAAC competitors.
Marks by Sluijter and Beckman are two of eight achievements that earned top five status among conference peers. Other placements include
Alexe Gauthier (200 meters),
Joseph Poleate (60 hurdles), the 4x400 relay team of
Daniel Reader,
Todd Charles,
Lucas Koon-Perez, and
Bah Abdoulaye;
William Cook (high jump),
Tyler Cash (pole vault), and
Logan Hart (triple jump). All marks were recorded at the Penn State meet.
A quartet of men's runners added top five finishes to the day at State College as well.
Richard Gilchrist finished second in the 60 hurdles finals with a time of 8.10 seconds, and Charles took fourth in the 60 dash at 6.90 seconds.
Miles Moore ran a 22.04 second 200 meter dash and
Will Stephenson earned an 8.39 second hurdle time, both coming in fifth.
At the Liberty Open,
Ella Dougher and
Riley Bell finished in the top 10 for their events. Dougher finished eighth in the pole vault while Bell was 10
th in the 5000 meters. Further top 10 finishers at Penn State included Poleate,
Cyre Hooper,
Dante Elliott,
Nando Meggs,
Madelyn Valpy,
Najhayne Watson, and
Renaldi Falwell.
Mount St. Mary's heads to Liberty again for the Darius Dixon Invitational February 9-10.
