A look at Cape Region’s college track athletes

This week, I am dedicating my column to the local track & field athletes competing in college at any level. Most of the athletes are taking part in their conference championships at the end of this week and into the weekend. From Division I to Division III, and add the NAIA and NJCAA schools, we have quite a few athletes at different levels of competition.

If I missed anyone downstate, email me results at tim@seashorestrider.com and I will get them in.  

Sussex Academy graduate Savannah Sistrunk, a senior sprinter at the University of New Haven, has run 7.40 in the 55 meters and 7.92 in the 60 meters this season. Sistrunk recently ran her best at 200 meters (26.23) at the Northeast-10 Championships Feb. 17 at The Track at New Balance in Boston, where she finished fourth. This weekend, Sistrunk will compete at the SCSU Last Chance Invite, as she gets ready for the New England Championships in two weeks.

Cape graduate Ryan Baker, a freshman distance runner at Lehigh University, has been battling some injuries this season and will not compete at the upcoming conference championships. Baker did have two impressive races this season, as he went 8:49.56 in the 3,000 meters Jan. 20 at the Villanova Invitational and 15:35.47 in the 5,000 meters Feb. 2 at the Scarlet Knight Open. 

Sadie Tunnell, Sussex Academy graduate and high school state champion, is a sophomore long sprinter at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colo., and ran 58.45 in the 400 meters Feb. 2 at the Colorado Invite. Tunnell will head to the Mountain West Championships this weekend in Albuquerque, N.M., as her team from CSU looks to defend its 2023 title. The CSU woman have won six indoor titles since 2006.

Cape graduate Alexa Dougherty, a freshman sprinter/hurdler at the University of Delaware, will head to her first college championship this weekend at the Armory Facility in New York City. Dougherty, the girl who was not going to compete in college, was given a walk-on tryout along with three other athletes back in the fall. After two weeks, she was the only one to be invited onto the team. Dougherty, coached by my son Ben, an assistant coach for the team, now finds herself running in the CAA meet in three events. Dougherty will compete in the 400 meters, the distance medley relay and the mile relay. Dougherty ran a personal career best of 59.94 at Ocean Breeze Feb. 9 at the Fast Track Invite. Teammate Katie Kuhlman, also a Cape graduate, is nursing an injury and will not compete at conferences.

Sussex Academy graduate Emily Trout, a junior at Gettysburg College, recently ran 11:25.29 in the 3,000 meters at the SU Tune-up Invite Feb. 17. Trout also ran the 1,000 meters in 3:22.34 at the Dec. 8 Franklin & Marshall Invite. Trout and her Gettysburg team will return to action this weekend at Franklin & Marshall for the conference championships.

Cape graduate Liam O’Donnell, a freshman distance runner at Rowan, has turned in a 4:27.11 this season in the mile run at the Big Apple Invitational at Ocean Breeze. On Feb. 2, O’Donnell led off the distance medley relay that ran 10:51.68. On Feb. 19 at the NJAC Championships at Ocean Breeze, O’Donnell anchored the distance medley relay to a season-best time of 10:31.59 to help his team win the conference championship. 

Sussex Academy graduate Alyssa Swann, a sophomore long sprinter at Stevensville, has competed in the 800 meters three times this season. She improved each time and, most recently, ran 2:37.69 at the Fast Track Invite Feb. 9 at Ocean Breeze. Swann, who ran on my Beacon track & field team back in the day, has also clocked a time of 31.81 in the 200 meters and 1:09.36 in the 400 meters. Swann also competes on the 1,600m relay and distance medley relay. The MAC Indoor Championships will be Saturday, Feb. 24, at Alvernia University in Pennsylvania.

A look at the Salisbury Seagulls’ roster found Indian River graduate Declan Burke, a junior distance runner, turned in a 4:34.84 mile Feb. 16 at the C2C Indoor Championships. Burke also anchored the distance medley relay to a time of 10:52.09. Salisbury finished third on both the men’s and women’s sides of the action. Delmar graduate Austen Cave, a junior, ran 15:25.10 back on Dec. 2 at the CNU Holiday Open in Virginia. Cave has a stress fracture and will not compete for the rest of the year. Sussex Academy graduate Brett Parker, a freshman, ran 4:46.95 this season at the George Mason Patriot Games Jan. 26.

Sussex Academy graduate Alissa Oscar, a freshman jumper at Catholic University, has jumped 13-feet-6-icnhes in the long jump and 30-9 in the triple jump this season. Oscar long jumped at the Robert Comstock Classic Jan. 20 and triple jumped at the Patriot Games Jan. 26. The Landmark Conference Championships are Saturday, Feb. 24, at Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, Pa., at the Robert I. Estill Field House. 

Sussex Academy graduate Kasi Showers, a freshman sprinter/hurdler at Bridgewater College, ran 8.77 in the 60-meter dash at the VMI Winter Relays Feb. 2. Showers also ran 29.61 in the 200 meters at the Joe LaRocco Invite Feb. 10. The ODAC Championships will be in Salem, Va., Saturday, Feb. 24, and Sunday, Feb. 25, at Roanoke College. The meet will be held at Best-Cregger Fieldhouse, a beautiful 200-meter indoor facility that was funded by private grants from Roanoke College graduates.