Men’s track & field hope to overtake PAC
Coming off a season where they finished second out of nine teams at the Presidents’ Athletic Conference Championships, the Waynesburg University men’s track team looks to set their hopes high coming into a new campaign.
“We lost by one point at the PAC Championships last year,” said junior thrower Brandon Vantine. “It was heartbreaking, but I think that has really driven our offseason programs and I think we can do great things as long as we continually put exceptional effort into what we do.”
With the change of season also comes a change in talent and a time for players to step up. The men have lost some key contributors to last year’s success. Jon Allison, who set a school record in the 3,000 meter Steeplechase, and Travis Schubert, the team’s top thrower last season, lead the list of nine seniors who graduated from the team.
With the loss of these seniors also comes the rise of some of the underclassmen with big performances last year. In the running events, standout freshman Mark Minjock is back and looking to improve for his sophomore season.
“I am hoping to come into this season stronger than I ever have before,” said Minjock. “I have been working all summer and this fall to build up my strength and endurance which I hope to succeed by improving my times and to place higher at championships.”
Last season, Minjock emerged as not only one of the top freshman runners on the team, but one of the top runners overall. In his first collegiate event last season he finished in fourth in the 60 meter dash, 13th in the 200 meter dash, and 14th in the 400 meter dash.
Minjock was consistently a top runner for the Jackets, and he looks to improve upon those skills this season and lead his team in any way he can.
“I also am feeling faster than I ever have before,” said Minjock. “And I am very confident for this upcoming season.”
In the field events, sophomore pole vaulter Mitch Kendra looks to lead the team with the loss of national qualifier Byrum Louco.
Kendra set the record in last year’s Marty Pushkin Track Classic with a height of 3.65 meters. Only in his sophomore season.
The Waynesburg throwers look to juniors Aniellio DeStefano and Vantine. Vantine and Schubert always went back and forth as to who was the top man in shot put for the Jackets.
“Travis was awesome,” said Vantine. “He really kept his work ethic and understanding going throughout his career. He was a huge asset as an athlete and as a player.”
Vantine picked up an overall win in last year’s competition at WVU when he threw for 13.43 meters toping a group of 15 throwers.
In the discus category, DeStefano has been a staple at the top of the Waynesburg leader boards and looks to stay there this season.
“We just need to continue working,” said DeStefano. “We need to help the freshmen find their roles and help them progress to where they will become major contributors to this team.”
No matter which of these athletes you ask, their goals are all the same. Come together as a team and win a PAC Championship.
“Even with Travis and Byrum gone we have high hopes this year,” said DeStefano. “We have some great sprinters and some good recruits, so we just have to wait and see how things turn out.”
Minjock added that the loss by one point in the PAC Championship is adding fuel to the fire and helping this team become motivated to win.
“Though we lost, we had a perfect team attitude that I would never change,” said Minjock. “That’s the kind of attitude we need to have that can get us over the hump to a PAC Championship.”
With the first event of the season approaching quickly, the men are excited and ready to get back to action in hopes of bringing the elusive PAC Championship title back to Waynesburg.