WORCESTER, Mass. – Kaden Kluth and
Carver Morgan each brought home Patriot League titles for American University track on the second and final day of the Patriot League Championships. Kluth surged late to win the men's 1500 in 3:49.60, becoming AU's first champion in the event since 2008, while Morgan dominated the 800 meters with a personal-best and meet record time of 1:47.91. The junior also completed a sweep of the league's indoor and outdoor 800 titles and now ranks 32nd in the NCAA East Region.
Lorelei Bangit continued her record-breaking streak with a runner-up finish in the 400 meters, clocking a new program-best 54.00 seconds. The sophomore also broke her own 200-meter record for the second straight day, placing fourth in 24.21.
The Eagles also brought home a bronze medal in the women's 4x100 meter relay. The squad of
Zoe Clark,
Tamara Dorval,
Ciera Thacker, and Bangit ran a program record of 46.22 to place third in the event.
- Senior Danny O'Neill started the day with a PR of 9:13.22 in the steeplechase, placing sixth to earn points for AU.
- Dorval, coming back from the school record 4x100, placed fourth in the 100 meters in 11.87 seconds, just .01 seconds off the record she set in yesterday's prelim.
- Freshman Noah Smith ran a well-executed race to lead the Eagles in the 5k, placing 16th in 14:57.68.
- Both 4x400 relay squads ran second AU all-time performances. The men's squad of Brandon Williams, Malcolm Lewis, Morgan, and Kluth placed sixth in 3:16.39, while the women's squad of Clark, Kara Langbaum, Lara Gin, and Grace Kirk placed ninth in 3:56.05.
Coaches' Corner
"Our men and women competed absolutely phenomenally at the championships this weekend," said head coach
Sean Graham. "Across the board we had athletes setting season bests, personal bests, AU top-five times, school records, meet records, scoring finishes, podium finishes, and Patriot League champions! It was an excellent weekend for AU Men's and Women's Track. Typically, I mention a handful of highlights after each meet as we progress through the season. But this meet was different. The whole team came together and absolutely crushed it.
"The big highlights were the scoring positions.
Tamara Dorval capping off her Freshman year with another school record and a fourth place finish in the women's 100. The women's 4x100 of Zoe, Tamara, Ciera and Lorelei earning a bronze medal and improving on their school record! And of course, Lorelei's second and fourth place finishes in the 400 and 200 respectively. What an extraordinary weekend of racing for her.
"On the men's side, senior
Danny O'Neill with a PR and sixth place scoring finish in the steeplechase. The Men's 4x400 running the second best time in school history from the second heat to also place sixth and score good points. Finally, the middle-distance duo of Kaden and Carver both coming back to DC as Patriot League champions in the 1500 and 800 respectively. Both men executed their finals excellently to put the fields behind them and come away on top.
"I know we typically break down all of the performances at the bottom of our articles. Please read over those performances and see how well these great student-athletes did representing our university and program. It was a phenomenal weekend of competition."
Next Up
American will continue the postseason with a small crew competing at the ECAC/IC4A Championships hosted by George Mason on May 17-18.
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PATRIOT LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP DAY 2 RESULTS
3000m Steeplechase FINAL, Men |
6. Danny O'Neill, 9:13.22 (PR)* | 9. Daniel Messer, 9:49.92 |
4x100 Relay FINAL, Women |
3. Clark, Dorval, Thacker, Bangit, 46.22*** |
1500m FINAL, Men |
1. Kaden Kluth, 3:49.60 |
400m FINAL, Women |
2. Lorelei Bangit, 54.00 (PR)*** |
100m FINAL, Women |
4. Tamara Dorval, 11.87 |
800m FINAL, Men |
1. Carver Morgan, 1:47.91 (PR)* |
200m FINAL, Women |
4. Lorelei Bangit, 24.21 (PR)*** |
5000m FINAL, Men |
16. Noah Smith, 14:57.68 | 21. Jaden Frederick, 15:10.60 | 28. Danny O'Neill, 15:26.73 | 36. Jacob West, 16:42.61 |
5000m FINAL, Women |
29. Bryn Underwood, 18:27.17 | 36. Zoe Rector, 18:54.33 |
4x400 Relay FINAL, Men |
6. Williams, Lewis, Morgan, Kluth, 3:16.39* |
4x400 Relay FINAL, Women |
9. Clark, Langbaum, Gin, Kirk, 3:56.05* |
*Top 10 Record Book Mark
***New School Record