ERIE, Pa. – The Penn State Behrend men's and women's track and field teams are ready for their first-ever Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) championship meet Saturday, May 7.
The men were picked as preseason favorites to win the conference crown their first year in the league. They are riding into championships on a record-breaking wave.
The men current hold 15 top times and three second-ranked times in the CSAC out of the 21 outdoor events. They also currently have four of the top five times in the 800m, 1500m, 110m hurdles, the 3000m steeplechase and the pole vault.
Matt McWilliams (Waterford, PA/Fort LeBoeuf) and Mitchell Obenrader (Fryburg, PA/North Clarion) are at the forefront of the squad with a swarm of teammates right of their heels for top times. McWilliams and Obenrader have each already broken three outdoor Behrend record so far this season.
McWilliams took the top spot in the 800m, 1500m and 5000m while Obenrader adds new shot put, discus and hammer throw records to his trophy case. The Lions also have Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) qualifiers in 11 different events and these two have qualified in each of their record-holding events.
On the women's side, they hold CSAC top times in nine events and hold the second-ranked time in five more events. The women were chosen to finish second in the conference this season behind Gwynedd Mercy.
Paige Allen (Butler, PA/Butler) is taking the season by storm thus far, breaking school records in the 200m and 400m while qualifying for ECACs in the 100m, 200m, 400m and as a part of the 4x100m relay team. Rachel Pell (Elizabeth, PA/Elizabeth Forward), Rachel Ramsey (North Versailles, PA/East Allegheny) and Haley Yenchik (Cecil, PA/Canon McMillan) are also making significant impacts on the track.
Pell has the top time in the 400m hurdles and second-best time, behind Allen, in the 110m hurdles while Yenchik holds the pole vault top height and the best triple jump distance in the CSAC. They both are also a part of the ECAC 4x100 qualifying team. Ramsey sits as the second fastest 5000m and 10,000m runner in the conference this season.
