Viotto Earns All-East Honors with Eighth Place Finish in Discus on Day 2 of IC4A Track Championships
May 14, 2011
File Photo Courtesy of UD Photo Services
• PRINCETON, N.J. -- The University of Delaware women’s 4 x 800 meter relay team set a school record in qualifying for the finals, Vicky Caruso recorded the top preliminary time in the women’s 400 meters, and senior John Viotto (at right) posted an eighth place finish in the men’s discus to highlight the second day of the ECAC and IC4A Women’s and Men’s Outdoor Track & Field Championships Saturday at Princeton University’s Weaver Stadium.
The third and final day of the annual regional meet will get underway Sunday morning.
Delaware’s 4 x 800 meter relay squad of Emily Gispert, Lindsay Prettyman, Jessica Olsen, and Rachel Wasserman posted a time of 9:02.16 to place ninth in the preliminaries and earn a spot in Sunday’s final. In the process, the tandem broke an 18-year old Blue Hen record as its time surpassed the previous UD mark of 9:07.29 by Jill Riblett, Katie Guarracino, Jacqui Tweed, and Marnie Giunta in 1993.
Caruso also had a big day for Delaware as she sped to a time of 54.06 in the 400 meters to take first place and qualify for Sunday’s finals. Delaware’s record-holder in the event, Caruso captured the Colonial Athletic Association 400 meter title last week.
Also for the Delaware women, the 4 x 400 meter relay team of Caruso, Nijah Dupiche, Kayla Hennessy, and Kristi Cox placed 10th in the preliminaries with a time of 3:45.06 but did not qualify for the finals, Latoya James was 18th in the 100 meter hurdle preliminaries (14.53), Alana Pantale was 18th in the discus (137-7), Jillian Seamon was 21st in the javelin (119-7), and Hennessy finished 25th in the 100 meter hurdle preliminaries (14.89).
Viotto, who captured the CAA shot put and discus title last week, continued his outstanding performances as he placed eighth in the discus with a throw of 162-10 to earn All-East honors.
Also for the Delaware men, Ryan Braunagel finished 11th in the hammer with a career-best toss of 181-1, CAA hammer champion Jim Schwendtner was 12th in that same event with a throw of 180-11, Andy Weaver posted a 17th place finish in the 5,000 meters (14:25.18), and Connor Whitesel was 23rd in the hammer throw (170-0).
Delaware will continue action with the final day of the championships on Sunday. Competing for the Blue Hen men will be Tim Byrne and Viotto in the shot put beginning at 10 a.m. For the Delaware women, Caruso will run in the 400 meter finals at 1 p.m. and the 4 x 800 meter relay team will compete in the finals at 2:40 p.m.
AGATE:
Delaware Men’s Finishers: 8th Place - John Viotto, discus (162-10); 11th Place - Ryan Braunagel, hammer (181-1); 12th Place - Jim Schwendtner, hammer (180-11); 17th Place - Andy Weaver, 5,000m (14:25.18); 23rd Place - Connor Whitesel, hammer (170-0)
