The Georgetown track and field team dominated the mid-distance and distance events at last weekend’s Nittany Lion Challenge hosted by Penn State. Both the men and women’s teams boasted several first-place finishes, starting with the 800 meters.
For the men, graduate student Billy Ledder took the 800 meters (1:48.46), junior Michael Lederhouse won the mile (4:09.83), and junior Ahmed Bile set a meet record in the 3,000 meters (8:00.25). In women’s action, senior Hannah Neczypor finished first in the 800 meters (2:09.01) while teammate sophomore Sabrina Southerland took the 1,000 meters (2:44.77).
According to Georgetown Director of Track & Field Patrick Henner, the strength of the mid-distance and distance squads is a product of a cross-country season that saw both the men and women contending for the national championship. With the men’s team finishing in 17th place and the women taking 4th overall in the NCAA Championships, the Hoya track squad is loaded with proven mid-distance and distance talent. Versatile Hoya legs have converted nicely to different events, giving Henner plenty of options as the team’s director.
“Look at Ahmed and Amos—the two guys in the 3,000—they were 800 runners last year,” said Henner. “Now in their new event, they’re fighting for meet records.”
In the men’s mile, 3K, and 800, Hoya runners ran together and out-leaned each other for the top spots, and that was just fine with Henner.
“It’s something you see in practice,” Henner said of his team’s competitiveness. “It’s about making each other better.”
This fierce Hoya running style is translating to winning times on the track. Georgetown runners are pushing each other for faster times, and it’s working.
The Hoyas will return to Penn State in less than two weeks for the Penn State National Invitational, but this time with a different focus. The priority for the Hoyas on January 30th and 31st will be qualifying a Distance Mixed Relay team for the NCAA championships.
If the Penn State track treats the Hoyas as well as it did last weekend, Henner and the rest of the coaching staff will be very, very pleased.
