It was a weekend of new records and personal bests at the Valentine Invitation held in Boston last weekend. Among those record-setters, Lucy Van Dalen, Mubaarak Muhammad, and Melvin Genao turned in times that qualified for new Stony Brook records, and, in Van Dalen’s case, a new NCAA Provisional record.
Lucy Van Dalen, a freshman from Wanganui, New Zealand, finished fifth overall with a time of 4:46.32, both a Stony Brook record and NCAA Provisional qualifying time. It makes her only the second female athlete to make the national indoor list since the Seawolves became a Division I program. The record has significant meaning, as it not only recognizes the Seawolves as a new powerhouse in track and field, it spotlights Van Dalen and her prowess.
Coach Andy Ronan was particularly proud and delighted about Van Dalen’s performance.’ ‘Lucy Van Dalen’s run in the mile was outstanding, for a freshman to break the school record in only her second indoor race ever, creates a lot of excitement for the future,’ he said.
Van Dalen wasn’t the only Seawolf showcasing her talent. She was followed closely by teammate sophomore Laura Huet of Carrickmines, Ireland who crossed 10th overall (4:55.04) and improved upon her ECAC qualifying time. Coach Ronan said, ‘Laura Huet continued her fine string of performances with an ECAC time in the mile.’
Stony Brook’s other top 10 finishers were senior Dana Hastie, from Wellington, New Zealand, who also improved her ECAC qualifying time by finishing seventh overall in the 3,000-meter with a time of 9:41.46. Lisa Voltaire, a sophomore from Stockholm, Sweden, placed 10th in the 1,000-meter with her time of 2:58.76. The women’s distance medley relay team of Van Dalen, Voltaire, Huet and sophomore Stephanie Vos also qualified for the ECAC’s when the team finished with a time of 11:50.79, which was good enough for second overall.
The next day was the men’s track and field Valentine Invitation, and their own set of new records. Mubaarak Muhammad, who set a personal best and broke the Stony Brook record in the triple jump last weekend, broke it once again Saturday with a distance of 14.35 meters. This jump was better than his 14.33 previous distance, good enough for sixth overall.
When asked about Muhammad’s feat, Coach Ronan said ‘Mubaarak Muhammad continues his excellent indoor season with his second school record in a week; this ranks him number two in the America East conference’
Senior Melvin Genao from Port Jefferson Station, N.Y., finished 19th in the 500-meter and set a new season-best personal time for the Seawolves with a time of 1:05.81. Tim Hodge, a sophomore from Tawa, New Zealand, also ran a season-best time for the Seawolves in the mile, finishing 16th overall with a time of 4:12.41.’ Sophomore Daire Bermingham from Portmarnock, Ireland, posted an IC4A qualifying time of 4:13.07 in the mile, good enough for a 21st overall place.
In the other events, senior Justin Miller from Smithtown, N.Y., stood tall in the shot put placing 18th with a distance of 14.66 meters. Concerning Hodge and Bermingham, Coach Andy Ronan said ‘Daire Bermingham and Tim Hodge are starting to show signs of getting into great shape for the championship portion of the season.’
Next week will be a much needed break in the action for the runners, before they travel to Boston yet again for the America East Championships on Feb. 22.
