BUCKNELL RESULTS | CORNELL RESULTS

The Ithaca College men's track and field team took on high-level competition across two different meets, both hosted by a Division I school. A select few of the top distance runners traveled down to Bucknell University on Saturday and mixed it up with some of the top runners in the nation, while the rest of the squad competed on Sunday on the East Hill at the Cornell Big Red Invitational. 

Seniors Ben Buffone and Aidan Loughlin as well as sophomore Colin Lesher got the racing started for the Bombers on Saturday at the Bucknell Bison Outdoor Classic in the 800 meters. Buffone, who missed the indoor season with injury ran his second fastest time of his career in just his second track race of this calendar year. Buffone, who was racing in the second heat went out in a 54.70 through 400 meters. Buffone wanted to run an aggressive race and was content with his finishing time of 1:53.45, finishing sixth in his heat and 27th overall. This time puts Buffone, the indoor 800 school record holder, second all-time on the outdoor list in Ithaca College history. 

Ten heats later, Loughlin turned back the clock, breaking the two-minute barrier and then some for the first time since last outdoor season. He ran nearly a one second personal best, running 1:57.09, three seconds faster than his fastest time from this past indoor season. In the following heat, Lesher clocked a three second season best of 1:59.22, qualifying for the Liberty League Championship meet. 

Painting competed in the 5000 meter invitational run in the evening, running a 15:12. This is Painting's best outdoor mark in the 5K, and his second fastest time overall. Painting has now qualified for the All-Atlantic Regional Track and Field Championships in both the 1000 meter run and the 5K.

The following day, the remainder of the Bombers team picked up right where the Bucknell squad left off, putting together a plethora of impressive performances, battling Division I competition and chilly, windy conditions. 

First-year sprinter/hurdler Eddie Kenneddy made his collegiate high hurdles debut, running a 15.99 second 110 meter hurdles race, good enough to qualify for the Liberty League Championships. Kennedy looked comfortable clearing the 42-inch hurdles, despite never facing that height in competition before. 

First-year sprinter Anik Vossschulte clocked a 10.89 second 100 meter dash, good enough for a tie for fourth all-time in Ithaca history. He immediately followed that with a strong performance in the 4x100 meter relay, joining first-year Jacob Antilety, senior Matt Lokshin and junior Max Boreland as the squad ran 42.68 seconds to finish third in the meet. 

In the 800 meter run, first-year Griffin Lupes had a strong showing in his collegiate debut in the event. After focusing on the 5K for the majority of the indoor season, Lupes dropped down in distance today and won the third heat, running a 2:00.06 as he looks to sharpen up for a fast 1500 meter race next weekend. 

In the field events, the Bombers saw top five performances in both the Javelin, Hammer  and Shot Put throws. First-year Dan Mussili threw a season best of 45.59 in javelin for fourth place, while first-year Avery Sens launched a 12.93 meter shot put to place fifth in the open shot put competition. In the open hammer throw, first-year Marco Lopergolo threw 43.62 meters for fifth place.

The Bombers wrapped the meet up strong running two 4x400 meter relays, with the top team finishing second in a time of 3:27.18. The team which consisted of Boreland, Lupes, Vossschulte and sophomore Damion Simmonds were led by Simmonds who anchored them in a 48.57, Simmonds' first time ever splitting under 49 seconds. 

The Bombers will be on the road next weekend, traveling to Moravian University to compete in the Moravian Coach P. Invitational, beginning on Friday, Apr. 17 at 1 p.m.