ERIE, Pa. – The Penn State Behrend men's and women's track and field teams are ready for their fourth Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) Championship Meet this Saturday and Sunday, May 4-5, hosted by Keystone in La Plume, Pa.
The men and women were picked as preseason favorites to win the conference after they both won the crown last year. The women current hold 14 top finishes in the CSAC out of the 22 outdoor events while the men hold nine top finishes.
Senior Haley Yenchik (Cecil, PA/Canon McMillan) will be returning to the CSAC Championships for the fourth time in her career. Yenchik is looking to win her fourth consecutive pole vault championship. In 2018, Yenchik won the pole vault event, along with placing second in the triple jump, third in the women's long jump, third in the 100m dash, and being a part of the winning 4x400m team. In 2017, Yenchik was named the Field Athlete of the Year after her finish in the CSAC Championships. She won the pole vault and triple jump events along with coming second in the long jump. Her freshman year, Yenchik won both the triple jump and pole vault. She is currently ranked first in the CSAC in both the pole vault and long jump. Yenchik is set to compete in the 100m dash, 200m dash, 4x100m relay, 4x400m relay, pole vault, and long jump.
Courtney Sargent (Erie, PA/Collegiate Academy) is looking to defend her title in both the 3000m steeplechase and 800m run. Sargent won both events in 2018. She won the steeplechase in 2017 along with second place in 800m run. Sargent won the 800m in 2016. She is ranked on top in the 3000m steeplechase and third in the 800m. Sargent won the steeplechase in both the SRU Open and Cal U Early Bird Invite earlier this season. She will compete in the 800m run, 1500m run and 3000m steeplechase.
Newcomer Emily Michsen (Gibsonia, PA/Deer Lakes) is set out to secure her first CSAC Championship. Mischen is ranked first in the women's shot put, second in the hammer throw, and third in the discus. She has won multiple events this season along with being named a CSAC Athlete of the Week twice this season. Mischen is set to compete in the shot put, discus, and hammer throw this weekend.
On the men's side, Braeden Smith (Erie, PA/Seneca) leads the way in the high jump. Smith is ranked first in the CSAC by more than four inches. Smith competed in the high jump at the national stage during the indoor season, qualifying for the NCAA Division III Track and Field Championship and placing eighth, becoming and All-American in the event. He is looking to get his second consecutive title in the high jump, having won last year with a jump of 2.00m. Smith will be competing in the high jump, triple jump, and long jump this weekend.
Sophomore Matt Michael (Erie, PA/Iroquois) will be competing in the shot put, discus, hammer throw, and javelin this weekend. Michael is the reigning champ in both the shot put and discus. He won the discus by more than three meters last year. Michael is ranked first in the CSAC in the shot put, second in the hammer throw, and third in the discus. He was named a CSAC Field Athlete of the Week earlier this season, and has finished in the top five in the shot put four times this season.
Freshman Antonio Stello (Punxsutawney, PA/Punxsutawney) will be competing in the CSAC Championships for the first time in his career. Stello will be entered in the 100m dash, 200m dash, and 4x100m relay. He leads the CSAC in the 200m dash and is a member of the top 4x100m relay team. Stello was named a CSAC Athlete of the Week twice this season. He comes into the championship with an 11.30s 100m time and a 22.17s 200m time.