By: Scott Eddy, Assistant Athletics Director for Strategic Communications
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – St. Bonaventure's men's track team made history for the program on multiple fronts at this weekend's Atlantic 10 Indoor Track and Field Championships held at the Virginia Beach Sports Center.
Along with four new Bonnies school records, junior Aiden Scattergood and sophomore Brendan Chapple turned in the best finishes at the conference championships in Bonnies program history.
Scattergood and Chapple scored the first points for the Bonnies ever at indoor championships. St. Bonaventure first competed at A-10 Indoor Championships in 2022.
Scattergood, a native of Ambler, Pa., continued his standout Bonaventure career on Saturday as he recorded the program's best-ever championship finish in either indoor or outdoor track with a fifth-place run in the mile. His time of 4:11.63 crushed his existing program record of 4:15.35 set earlier this month and was just over two seconds off the winning time of 4:09.46 recorded by Rodolfo Sanchez of Fordham.
Chapple earned the final transfer spot in the 1000-meter prelims as he turned in a time of 2:28.36 on Friday night, besting his previous record of 2:28.98 set in the same venue at last year's championship meet.
The Waterloo, Ontario product became the program's first-ever finals qualifier and scored for the Bonnies, finishing eighth in the final on Saturday as he posted 2:30.52.
Junior Christian Figueroa registered two new school records in the 200 and 400. He placed 13th out of 23 competitors in the 400 with his time of 49.88, crushing his previous PR of 51.27 and becoming the first Bonnies athlete to break the 50-second barrier in the event.
In the 200, Figueroa surpassed his own previous school record as he timed in at 23.00.
Also in the mile, senior Drew Carlson ran his best-ever time of 4:25.19 to move to seventh individually in the program record book.
Sophomore Ryan Umiker jumped to sixth in the Bonnies record book for the 800 meters with his effort of 1:58.82, improving on his previous PR by over three seconds, while freshman Nathan Sikorski also PR'ed at 1:59.28.
Senior Colin McCarthy set a new personal best in the 5000 with his run of 15:47.74, good for third individually in program history, while junior Ethan Luce showed the way for the Bonnies in the event at 15:40.43, just off his school record set earlier this season.
In the 3000 meters, senior Clay Peets placed 16th out of 27 competitors as he crossed the stripe at 8:27.39. Also in the 3K, sophomore William McCarthy recorded a personal best of 8:49.71, good for fourth individually in school history.
QUOTES FROM HEAD COACH BOB MACFARLANE
"We were very excited to have a total of 29 athletes qualify combined between the men's and women's teams across a variety of track events. The team had an impressive performance, breaking four school records and achieving 12 personal bests. Additionally, nine different athletes moved into the top-10 on the program's indoor record board. Two athletes also scored in the meet for the first time in our short indoor history with several others finishing in the top-12 in a very competitive conference. It was a strong finish to a successful season."
"Coach Lonzi and I are very pleased with the dedication and commitment the athletes showed throughout the indoor season. One of the main objectives was to prepare everyone for the outdoor season, and it seems that most athletes found their niche in specific events, setting them up for success as they move forward. The progress made this season will undoubtedly serve as a strong foundation for the upcoming outdoor competitions."
BONNIES RESULTS
200 meters
20. Christian Figueroa – 23.00 * - SCHOOL RECORD
400 meters
13. Christian Figueroa – 49.88 * - SCHOOL RECORD
21. Riley Dillon – 52.37
500 meters
19. Henry Morris – 1:08.31
21. Aidan Hurley – 1:09.23 (PR)
800 meters
17. Ryan Umiker – 1:58.82 (PR)
18. Nathan Sikorski – 1:59.28 (PR)
1000 meters prelims
8. Brendan Chapple – 2:28.36 * - SCHOOL RECORD
20. Alex Ryan – 2:40.45
1000 meters finals
8. Brendan Chapple – 2:30.52
Mile
5. Aiden Scattergood – 4:11.63 * - SCHOOL RECORD
21. Drew Carlson – 4:25.19 (PR)
26. Nathan Sikorski – 4:27.08 (PR)
3000 meters
16. Clay Peets – 8:27.39
26. William McCarthy – 8:49.71 (PR)
5000 meters
21. Ethan Luce – 15:40.43
22. Casey Malloy – 15:43.08
23. Colin McCarthy – 15:47.74 (PR)
24. Jared Deno – 16:02.35 (PR)
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