SELINSGROVE, Pa. — The Susquehanna University men’s and women’s track and field teams will be hosting athletes from 12 other schools and all three NCAA divisions at the 16th Annual Susquehanna University Invitational this Saturday, March 25. But unlike past 15, this invitational will have a unique twist as it will be held at Bucknell University’s Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium, beginning at 10 a.m.
The event has been forced off the Susquehanna University campus for a year because the old Amos Alonzo Stagg Field has been demolished while a new Nicholas A. Lopardo Stadium and Amos Alonzo Stagg Field, and future field house, is currently being built over the site. Since the new stadium will not be ready until the fall, the Susquehanna Invitational was forced off campus for a year.
Well over 500 athletes will be competing Saturday from NCAA Division I Bucknell; Division II Bloomsburg, Indiana (Pa.), Mansfield, Millersville, and Shippensburg; Division III Elizabethtown, Juniata, Lycoming, Messiah, Muhlenberg, and host Susquehanna; and NAIA Houghton. They will be competing for individual honors in the 20 men’s and women’s events respectively. There will be no team scoring.
There will be champions returning in eight men’s and eight women’s events.
On the men’s side, four of the returning champs are from host Susquehanna, under the direction of 22nd-year head coach Jim Taylor. Crusader senior tri-captain Matt Fenstermacher (Watsontown/Warrior Run H. S.) won the 100-meter dash (11.09) and long jump (22-10) last year, finishing second in both the 200 (23.09) and triple jump (44-8 3/4). Both of the champions who beat Fenstermacher in those two events also return as sophomore teammate Beau Heeps (Allentown/Parkland H.S.) won the 200 (23.08), while Messiah sophomore Chris Boyles took the triple (45-1 1/2). Susquehanna’s final returning champ is also a sophomore in Frank Dumbreski (Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon Center Regional H.S.), who won the pole vault (13-6).
Among the other returning champs, two are from Shippensburg in senior Matthew Powell in the shot put (48-5 1/2) and sophomore Justin Gindlesperger in the 1,500-meter run (4:13.55); while IUP junior Derek Brinkley won the 400-meter intermediate hurdles (55.64).
Expect Susquehanna senior Adam Ressler (Robesonia/Conrad Weiser H.S.) to be a factor in both the javelin and high jump, particularly after winning both (190-2 in the jav,6-3 1/4 in the high jump) and provisionally qualifying for the NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships in the javelin while walking off with Male Most Valuable Performer at the Roanoke Maroon Invitational last Saturday. Susquehanna freshman Matt Deamer (Lewistown/Indian Valley H.S.) also provisionally qualified for nationals in the javelin last Saturday in just his second collegiate meet — throwing 188-5.
Among the women, four of the returning champions are from Shippensburg. Senior Tammy Cauler won the 5,000-meter run (18:56.36) last season, with Susquehanna senior co-captain Sarah Costello (Palmyra/Palmyra H.S.) second while setting a school record (19:45.40). Shippensburg senior Jennifer Gubernot returns as champ in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles (1:07.34), with junior teammate Molly Cassner returning as champ in the triple jump (33-7 3/4), and sophomore Kelly Noel returning in the shot put (39-4 1/2).
IUP returns a pair of champs, including Amber Plowden, who won both the 100 (12.59) and 200 (25.77) a year ago — setting the only new meet record last season in the 200. Senior teammate Briana Roth returns as the champion in the javelin (125-10). Messiah senior Beth Engle rounds out the returning champs in the high jump (5-2).
