Track | Runners head south for A-10s

This weekend, the Saint Joseph's track teams will head to the Atlantic 10 Championships in Charlotte, N.C.

Overall, the men's and women's teams were picked to finish seventh and ninth, respectively, in the preseason poll voted on by the head coaches of the A-10.

The Hawks may finish in the bottom half of the conference as a team, but it's due in large part because they do not participate in field events. But they have opportunities to score some first-place finishes in individual track events, thanks to runners like Bobby Staten, '09, who is the favorite to win the 100 m dash.

Staten will be looking to bring home the gold after coming up short two times in the A-10 Indoor Championships. The redshirt senior from Pittsburgh, Pa., claimed second place in the 200 m dash (to Charlotte's Dairus Law) and the 55 m dash (to Charlotte's Sam Jordan) in February.

Those same two runners will be in his way next weekend. So far this season, Staten has the top time in the 100 m dash, with the 10.48 he managed at the Larry Ellis Invitational. After him, the 49ers' Jordan has the second best time, recording a 10.53 in March at the 49er Classic.

"I know that Bobby would really like to get an A-10 gold medal," Saint Joseph's men's head coach Mike Glavin said via e-mail. "Should everyone be healthy, it could come down to Bobby and [Jordan]. [Staten's chances] are very good."

In the 200 m dash, Staten has the fifth-fasted time in the conference. Earlier this month, the sprinter clocked in at 21.84 at the Colonial Relays. However, Charlotte's Law, who was the Most Outstanding Performer and Most Outstanding Rookie last season, and Jordan are the two favorites in this event, with times of 20.96 and 21.73 this season, respectively.

Another Hawk, Brian Guterl, '11, is among the top runners in several events. The sophomore's time of 1:51.19 in the 800 m run at the Onesty Invitational makes him the second-ranked runner in that event. Only Tim Majewski of Duquesne has posted a better time this season, with a 1:50.90.

Guterl is also ranked second in the 1,500 m. He managed a 3:46.91 at the Larry Ellis Invitational, which puts him behind Big Five rival Korey Edwards of La Salle, who had a conference-best 3:46.91 this season.

If things go Guterl's way, he will have a solid chance at winning the event.

"Conference meets have a tendency to get tactical, so sometimes it just has to be your day," Glavin said. "Brian has grown a lot in the 'racing' department this year. We'll see what cards he's dealt and how he handles the situation. I'm confident he will race well."

Distance runners Kyle Murray, '09, and Will Rowland, '09, hope to score wins for Saint Joseph's in the 3,000 m steeplechase and 5,000 m.

With a time of 9:19.13, Murray is ranked sixth in the 3,000 m steeplechase going into the conference championships. Rowland is the favorite at the 5,000 m distance. His time of 14:18.20 has been the best time in the A-10 in the outdoor season. Rowland will have to fend off Jonathon Pierce of Massachusetts and Ryan Jank of Charlotte, who have posted times of 14:20.24 and 14:26.81, respectively, this year.

Saint Joseph's is looking to do some damage in the relays, too.

Tom DiNatale, '12, Paul Barolette, '11, Drew Brandt, '10, and Staten combined for the conference's second-best time at the 4 x 100 m relay, with a 41.54, earlier this month. Only Charlotte has posted a better time.

The Hawks' 4 x 400 m relay team is coming off a strong performance at the Penn Relays this weekend, where they came in first place in the Wetzler/Pennsylvania section. Saint Joseph's ranks fifth in the conference in that event. Brandt, Staten, Dylan Wenik, '12, and Jared Sabre, '11, will have the momentum after their victory at Franklin Field.

"The 4 x 400 m at Penn was a nice win for the guys," Glavin said. "They should certainly be confident going into the A-10 meet."

As for the women's team, Nicole McMullen, '10, will lead the way once again. The junior has an opportunity to win two gold medals in Charlotte. In the 200 m dash, McMullen is ranked second with a time of 24.40, trailing only Lamarra Currie of Charlotte.

In the long jump, McMullen has the second-ranked score as well. Her distance of 18-8 is second to only Pat Springs of the 49ers, whose 19-9 3/4 is the best score in the A-10 this season.

The Hawks' best chance to bring a gold medal back to Hawk Hill may be in the high jump, where Natalie Miller, '09, will be competing. The senior out of Boyertown, Pa., has one of the three highest jumps this year in the A-10. She is tied with Shayna Dougherty of Rhode Island and Tiffany Maske of Dayton with a leap of 5-7.