Dec. 4, 2007
Complete Schedule in PDF Format 
EASTON, Pa. - Lafayette track and field kicks off its 2007-08 indoor season on Friday when the team hosts East Stroudsburg and St. Joseph's University at the Lafayette Invitational. It will take place in Kirby Sports Center and will begin at 4 p.m.
The Leopard women finished fourth while the men turned in a fifth place at the Patriot League Indoor Championships at Army last year and the team sent eight members to IC4A and ECAC competitions. This year Lafayette combines a group of talented freshmen with seasoned veterans to make a strong league contender.
"We're not just trying to get into the top four this year, but to see where in the top four we finish," said head coach Julio Piazza.
The men will return a strong corps of middle distance runners this year, led by senior co-captain Alex Wechsler who was an All-Patriot League selection in cross country this year after finishing seventh at the Patriot League Championships. Wechsler earned All-Patriot League honors last year in the 1,000m and anchored the 4x800m and distance medley relays that scored in the Patriot League Indoor Championships. Senior Brian Vail, junior Rob Blum and sophomore Sean Casey joined Wechsler in the DMR and the team qualified for IC4As.
Senior Aaron Buchman ran the 4x800m relay alongside Blum, Casey and Vail at the IC4A competition in Boston, Mass. last year, finishing fifth with a time of 7:39.80 to receive All-East honors. The team will get a boost from freshman Paul Von Hertsenberg who will compete in middle distance events.
Freshman Ryan Stasiowski looks to make an impact in the distance events after a successful cross country campaign. He finished first among the Leopards in the first three meets of the season and second in the final two.
Senior Ever Ruiz will lead sophomores Adam Ballester, William Braswell and Bradley Williams in the sprints this year. Braswell won the 60m and 200m dash at the Lafayette/Lehigh Dual. He won back-to-back Rookie of the Week honors and qualified for the IC4As in the 60m event. Last year's 4x400m relay scored at the Patriot League Indoor Championships will look to repeat its success this year.
Sophomore Sifiso Takirambudde ran the 60m hurdles in 8.36 last year to finish second in the Patriot League Indoor Championships, just .07 off the winning time. The Leopards will rely on him and senior Tom Blenk, who won the 60m hurdles event in the Lafayette/Lehigh Dual and placed in the league championships. Senior co-captain Daniel Sheehan will add depth to the event as well.
The throwing events will showcase a stronger Connor McGee who will be looking to place after finishing just outside of scoring range a year ago. Combined with junior Sean McAuley and freshman Matt Crystal, the trio hopes to score points for the Leopards.
Sophomore Kyle Clayton set the school record in the heptathlon last year, finishing with 4,314 points at the Patriot League Indoor Championships for sixth place. He will be looking to beat his own record as the season wears on.
On the women's side, senior co-captain Katie Schultes will guide the middle distance runners. Schultes notched a fourth-place finish in the 3,000m run and second place in the 5,000m at the Patriot League Indoor Championships. She will be joined by senior Brittany Waldron, sophomore Christine Wittich and freshmen Margaret Bruno-Metzger and Alison Hawkey.
Senior Kisha Thomas scored in the 60m dash at the league championships last year and will be looking to do so again this year. She is joined by freshman Asia Hollis who will compete in the 55m, 200m and 400m events. Classmate Janica Austin should be a contender early in the season, competing in the 200m and 400m hurdles.
"They are outstanding athletes in their own right who will make an immediate impact in the league," Piazza said of the freshmen. "I'm looking for Asia to be one of the best short and long-term sprinters in the Patriot League."
Junior Jessica Buzzell had a successful indoor campaign in the jumps last year, breaking the school record at the NYU Fastrack Meet with a jump of 18'6 ½", passing the previous record by a half-inch. Senior Emily Cholak and freshman Kerriann Borke will also compete in the jumps. Senior co-captain Kristen Kalinowski had a fourth-place mark in the pentathlon at the league championships last year, tallying 3,222 points.
"To win the Patriot League Championship we need our seniors to set the tone," said Piazza. "Our senior captains Schultes and Kalinowski, as will as Ashley Harbin and the other seniors will set the tone for the team to contend."
Harbin had a successful indoor season last year, finishing second at the Patriot League Championships and ECAC Championships in the 20-lb. weight with a throw of 61'4". She was named both the Patriot League Field Athlete of the Week and the ECAC Female Field Co-Athlete of the Week over the course of the season. She will be joined by Osasumwen Izevbigie who placed behind Harbin at the league championships and junior Vicky Melroy.
"Izevbigie has set some big goals for herself," said associate head coach Michele Curcio. "Last year was her first year competing indoors and Melroy was still learning the ropes. They've made the biggest improvements of the throwers."
The Invitational will start with the women's high jump at 4 p.m. A schedule of the events is attached. The meet is open to the public.
