In past years the Rensselaer track & field squads have been underdogs heading into the Liberty League and state championship meets. The team has always managed to progress quietly before a breakout performance when it really mattered—and when their opponents least expected it.
This year, however, the Engineers may have finally blown their cover with an outstanding performance at the Army Open this past Saturday at West Point. Despite battling several Division I teams, the men’s team took second place with 129 points and the women came in at the fifth spot with 61 points.
Rensselaer Track & Field Head Coach Colin Tory was particularly happy with the results: “This was some quality competition for our group and our athletes responded. Saturday showed we are working really hard and are focused on competing.”
In several events Saturday, the Engineers did not just compete, they dominated. The 1000-meter race and the pole vault might have well been just practice for RPI, as the Engineers found themselves battling each other for the events’ top spots. Sophomore Andrew Coye beat out teammate Conor Murphy, a junior, by three-tenths of a second to take first in the 1000-meter, while sophomore Geoff Williams finished fourth, just two seconds later.
“The distance group ran really well,” Tory said. “They showed that they are really focused on competing, and competing well.”
The pole-vaulters one-upped the distance runners, taking the top three spots in their event. Freshman Justin Metzger and senior Jason Legault each cleared 4.21 meters, but the upperclassman faulted once, giving the first place spot to the rookie. Freshman Sam Acevedo, listed as a mid-distance runner, cleared 3.91 meters to round out the top three and Metzger would earn Liberty League Co-Field Performer of the Week honors.
The women’s squad also successfully stamped the RPI Bullet on several events. Junior Jen Dias combined with sophomore Marion Albert to finish one, two in the 500-meter dash. Dias, who was named Liberty League Track Performer of the Week, set a school record in the event, crossing the finish line in 1:18.67.
The Taunton, Mass., native would not stop there. She also posted excellent marks in the 200-meter sprint and 60-meter hurdles where she place second and third, respectively.
“Jen was good again,” Tory said. “She had a good fall and is progressing nicely this winter.”
Dias was an All-American in the immediate hurdles during last year’s outdoor season and Tory believes a national championship is not out of her reach.
“It’s a fair goal for her,” Tory said. “She proved she can compete at that level last year.”
Junior Carol Scalice refused to let her classmate steal the entire show. After scoring points with a fourth place finish in the 60-meter sprint, Scalice uncorked a school record and NCAA provisional qualifying leap of 5.5 meters in the long jump. Her performance earned Scalice the Liberty League’s Field Performer of the Week award.
Senior Felicia Tsai also provided the women with 10 solid points after her 14.38 meter toss in the weight throw. Tsai combined with Jeremey Burnham on the men’s side to claim first place for both teams. Burnham would also pair up with Lance Chase to dominate the shot put competition. Chase, a senior, would take the top spot while Burnham would come in fourth.
Rensselaer also left West Point boasting the meet’s “fastest man” after junior Kemar Brown burned his D-I foes in the 60-meter sprint with a time 7.07 seconds. Brown, who was named Liberty League Track Performer of the Week, also earned points with a fifth place finish in the 200-meter.
Tory was pleased to see his teams perform well against solid competition. He typically schedules meets against nearby D-I schools to give his team a chance to push themselves while not wearing them out with long road trips and lengthy stays at massive meets.
RPI will have one more chance for a tune up before the conference meet, next Saturday, at Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H. There the Engineers will face another onslaught of D-I competition as they steady themselves to battle St. Lawrence for the Liberty League crown.
“We are still trying to build,” Tory said. “We will see some better competition and it’s a good facility, so everyone will have the chance to run fast.”
