Five Williams Men's Track Athletes Earn All-America honors at NCAA Championships
Ephs tie for 13th out of 80 teamsOSHKOSH, WI - The Five Ephs who headed west for the NCAA Men's Track & Field Championships closed out the three-day meet with a bang as all five earned All-American recognition. The Ephs rang up 19 points on the final day and finished tied for 13th place with Wisconsin-Platteville and Christopher Newport in a field of 81 teams. McMurray University won the event with a team score of 35.
"All of our guys came through big time today," noted head coach Peter Farwell.
Junior Macklin Chaffee ran a Williams record 3:47.43 in the 1,500 and he would have had a J.J. Keller Field record as well, but Andy Hodge of Wartburg won the race in a Division III season best time of 3:46.89.
"In a fast-paced race Macklin put himself in a good position to make a move with 100 meters to go and somehow he got through an opening and took the lead, before the guy from Wartburg overtook him at the end," said Farwell. "The top seed in the event finished fourth so that's a good indication of how well Macklin ran his race today."
Chaffee's second place finish cemented his All-American recognition, a spot in the Williams record book, and was the best finish on the day for the Ephmen.
Senior Andrew Arons took third in the 200 when he blazed across the line in 21.40, claiming his first All-American honor of the day. "Arons showed his usual strength over the last 100 meters and he almost got second, but I know he's pleased with a third after just missing out on the finals last year."
Arons was back on the track just 75 minutes later with the Ephs' 4x400 team where he joined Deividis Seferis, Alex Hoerman and Taylor Fitzgerald. "Earlier this season Andrew [Arons] struggled with running the 200 and the 4x400 in such a short time, but he built up his stamina and he got us off to a great start today," commented Farwell.
Arons handed the baton to Seferis and he was off like a rocket blasting into the first turn. "Deividis is really good running the first turn and the last turn," Farwell stated. "It must be something they work on in Europe. I don't know how he got through a gap in the final turn, but he did and he got us up to second place where Taylor [Fitzgerald] took over."
"Taylor made a challenge for first, but could not get around the lead runner, but he showed again just how tough he is, especially for a first year. Alex [Hoerman] did a great job of getting us fourth place running against the fastest guys in Division III."
The Eph quartet knocked just over two seconds off their qualifying time to finish in 3:13.52. That effort was good enough to earn additional All-America honors for Arons and allowed Seferis, Hoerman and Fitzgerald to join the Eph All-American parade.
"Any time you are seeded 15th and come home with fourth place you've done a great job," concluded Farwell.
WOMEN
Ephs finish 67th out of 80 at NCA Track Championships
First year elise Johnson earns All-America honors
OSHKOSH, WI – First year Elise Johnson notched a sixth place finish in the 100 high hurdles this afternoon and garnered All-America honors. Johnson was timed in 14.27. Johnson posted the highest finish on day three of the championships for the Ephs.
"Her [Elise's] hurdling gets better and better every week and she nearly had a school record," said head coach peter Farwell. "She had a solid sixth place finish in a strong field – she's been stupendous this season."
First year Lizzy Danhakl ran a 2:12.01 in the 800 and finished ninth one spot away from all-America honors.
Sophomore Olga Kondratjeva finished 11th in the 1,500 in a time of 4:38.76.
The Ephs finished 67th in a field of 80 teams. Wisconsin-River Falls and Illinois Wesleyan tied for the title with 35 points.
