Track Teams Begin Spring Season

RICHMOND, VA - The Bloomsburg University men's and women's track teams opened their 2006 outdoor season on Friday and Saturday at Virginia Commonwealth University Classic.

On Friday, in distance action, Mary Bacher (New Tripoli/Allentown Central Catholic) was fourth of 16 runners in the steeplechase in a PSAC-qualifying time of 11:37.70, while Sarah Bounds (Shippensburg/Shippensburg) took fifth in the 5000-meter race in a PSAC-qualifying of 18:28.19. Also, running PSAC-qualifying times at 5000-meters were Karen Hause (Bloomsburg/Central Columbia) who was ninth in 19:15.51 with Toni Zangari (Sunbury/Shikellamy) 10th in 19:16.85.

In the 1500-meters, Beth Schwing (Hershey/Lower Dauphin) was seventh of 51 runners in a PSAC-qualifying time of 4:49.83, while Amber Hackenberg (Middleburg/Middleburg) was 15th in a PSAC-qualifying time of 4:57.70.

For the men on Friday, Dave Sanford (Nescopeck/Central Columbia) took sixth in the 1500-meters in a PSAC-qualifying time of 4:01.61. Also running in the event were Dan Talerico (Pittsburgh/North Hills) and Mike Dalton (Lake Hopatcong, NJ/Pope John XXIII) who ended with identical times of 4:16.00.

In the 5000-meter race, Justin Shepherd (Cranberry Township/Seneca Valley) finished sixth of 48 runners in a PSAC-qualifying time of 15:09.17, while Mike Espinosa (Media/Penncrest) also ran a PSAC-qualifying time of 15:33.05. Also, Mike Litvinov (Drums/Hazleton) finished in 15:59.79, while Anthony Skiles (West Reading/Wyomising) ran a 16:52, Jim Stockley (Elverson/Twin Valley) ran 16:03.85 and Dan Ezzi (Mechanicsburg/Trinity) a 16:09.94.

On Saturday, Connie Raineri (Gilbertsville/St. Pius X) competed in both the 400-meters and the long jump, qualifying for the PSAC championships in both events. Raineri ran a 61:06 to finish 9th out of 56 competitors and was seventh in the long jump with a mark of 16 feet-9 3/4 inches.