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Freshman Regan Rome has kicked off her outdoor track season with William & Mary women’s team in fine style.
Rome, a former Dallas High standout, finished ninth in the 5,000-meter run at the 50th annual Colonial Relays last weekend in Williamsburg, VA. She posted an ECAC qualifying time of 17:03.66.
“Regan ran a very aggressive race,” distance coach Natalie Hall said. “She came through 3k in about 9:50 then faltered a little at the end but I am pleased with her first freshman 5k on the track.”
Rome prepped for the race by winning the mile at the William & Mary’s Pride Invitational. Her time (4:57.06) broke the oldest Zable Stadium record (5:00.7 by Olympian Robin Cambell in 1974). It is also a freshman record and the second fastest mile ever run outdoors by a Pride athlete.
“I think Regan has the ability to be an NCAA Regional qualifier (the top 48 in the East) for 5k,” Hall said. “She is a gutsy racer, which could surprise some people. She sets high standards for herself, but keeps a great perspective about them.”
Machalick moves up
Sophomore Alex Machalick is playing No. 2 singles and No. 1 doubles for the Elizabethtown men’s tennis team this spring. The Crestwood graduate is currently 2-7 in doubles and 3-7 in singles for the Blue Jays.
“Alex decided to focus on tennis this year and therefore didn’t play soccer in the fall,” coach Matt Helsel said. “His game is showing that the extra work is paying off.”
The coach said that last season, because of his athleticism, Machalick could extend points and make people work a lot more than they wanted to.
“This year, he is dictating play with his opponents and playing more offensive despite playing tougher players higher in the lineup,” Helsel said. “He’s developing into a leader as well and we’re lucky to have him.”
Honor for Kozloski
Franklin & Marshall sophomore Ryan Kozloski was named Centennial Conference Field Athlete of the Week after finishing first in both the javelin (160-11.1) and the triple jump (41-4.1) to help the Diplomats capture the team title at the Little Three meet in Carlisle. It was the team’s first victory over Gettysburg and Dickinson since 2005.
“Without Ryan’s effort in both events we wouldn’t have been able to win the title,” coach Carl Schnabel said. “He gave an amazing effort in the triple jump. He has been nursing a sore leg and I wanted to pull him from the triple, but he wouldn’t let me. He’s a tough competitor with a great work ethic. Working with a young man like Ryan is why I continue to coach and why I believe I have the greatest job in the world.”
The Dallas grad followed up that effort by finishing eighth out of 31, second best in Division III, in the javelin (169-08) at the 33rd Messiah Metrics in Millersville.
Big start for Sorokas
Sophomore Bobby Sorokas (Coughlin) is doing the job in the early going for the 4-7 Pitt-Bradford baseball team. He’s hitting .440 (11 for 25) with four doubles, six RBI and seven runs scored. On the mound, the Coughlin grad 1-1 with a save and had a complete-game 6-2 victory over Hilbert, working seven innings and giving up six hits and two runs, one earned, with four strikeouts. And, in the field, he hasn’t made an error on 21 chances. The only thing that’s stopped him is the weather. The Panthers have had to cancel six games and postpone five others.
“The weather has hurt Bobby and the rest of the team,” coach Bret Butler said. “However, he has battled this masterfully and continues to produce big numbers at the plate and on the hill.”
The coach feels that Sorokas has extra pressure on him at the plate.
“Bobby hits leadoff and even hits when he pitches,” Butler said. “But he is playing beautiful baseball this season.”
Honor for Sick
Keystone sophomore Race Sick was named Colonial States Athletic Conference Golfer of the Week after a solid performance in the spring opener at Myrtle Beach, SC. The Tunkhannock grad posted a 79 to tie for eighth in a field of 51 golfers. The Giants returned home and Sick posted an 86 in a tri-match at Tunkhannock’s Stonehedge, the team finishing third behind Marywood and Scranton.
“Race has improved tremendously,” coach Paul Kania said. “He has realized what kind of golfer he is and what kind of scores he is capable of scoring. Through hard work and dedication, it has allowed him to accomplish individual goals which reflect to our team goal of winning a conference championship.”
The CSAC Championship is set for April 24-25 in Huntingdon Valley.
Alexander back in form
Mansfield junior Tommy Alexander was named PSAC East Pitcher of the Week after tossing a one-hit, complete game 7-0 victory over East Stroudsburg.
The Wyoming Valley West grad gave up just a single in the fifth inning. He walked three and struck out four. It was his first victory of the season and just the fourth in 24 games for the Mountaineers.
“Tommy is returning to form,” coach Harry Hillson said. “We are expecting big things from him in the future. He has worked really hard and we are happy for him that he won the award.”
The 6-foot-3, 205-pound right-hander is 1-3 on the season with a 4.26 earned run average. He’s pitched in five games with four starts and in 25.1 innings has given up 25 hits and 15 runs, 12 earned, with 11 walks and 18 strikeouts.
Hayward continues to roll
For the second time in three races, St. Joseph’s sophomore Dannah Hayward has captured the 400-meter hurdles. She bested a field of 19 runners to score in 1:03.25 at last weekend’s Rider Invitational. Her time was 2.94 seconds faster than the runner-up.
The Coughlin grad captured the 400 hurdles at the Monmouth season opener in 1:04.30 and finished second at the Colonial Relays the following week. In that meet, she hit an ECAC qualifying time of 1:01.97 in the prelims to win her heat which was good for second in a field of 65 runners.
The Hawks return to action in the Widener Invitational this weekend in Chester.
A repeat for Alguire
Susquehanna sophomore Gabby Alguire has been named Landmark Conference Female Field Athlete of the Week for the second straight week.
The Tunkhannock grad finished third among 34 competitors in the javelin at the Bucknell Bison Outdoor Classic last weekend in Lewisburg. Her 146-7 3/4 effort was the top mark among Division III athletes.
Last week, she also earned Landmark honors when she bettered her own school record and set the league record with a 255-08 heave to finish first at the 31st annual Jim Taylor Invitational. Her previous high mark was 145-8 1/4.
The Crusaders will compete in the Mason Dixon Invitational Saturday at Gettysburg.