The Duke men's and women's indoor track and field squads split up this week in an effort to acquire some qualifying times before next weekend's IC4A/ECAC Championships. Some competitors traveled to New York for the Fastrack Invitational, hosted by New York University at the famous Armory Track.
The men's distance medley relay squad, comprised of senior Jon Amt, freshman Dan King, sophomore Steve Craig and junior Nick Schneider, set a Duke record Friday by tallying a fleet 9:42.88. The relay unit captured second place and eclipsed the Blue Devil mark that it had set at the Armory earlier in the season. This weekend's time was a provisional NCAA qualifying mark.
Senior middle-distance man Casey Reardon qualified for the IC4As for the first time this season with his second-place finish in the 800-meter run.
The other portion of the team stayed closer to home, venturing to Chapel Hill for the UNC Last Chance meet at the Eddie Smith Field House. The competition was conceived as a way for athletes who had not yet made IC4A/ECAC qualifying marks to reach their goals and continue their indoor seasons.
Three individual Blue Devils logged season highs Saturday in Chapel Hill. Senior pole vaulter Kristie Howard equaled her career high, clearing the bar at 11-7.75. Junior middle-distance specialist Ian Cronin earned an IC4A qualifying time of 4:13.99 in the mile, and freshman Jon Fox obliterated his previous personal best by almost half a minute in the 5000-meter run with his 15:15.33 time.
The women's distance medley relay team earned both a second-place finish and an NCAA provisional qualification with its time of 11:21.11. Among the field events, freshman Debra Vento was the top high jumper with a leap of 5-9.75 inches, and freshman thrower Beth Maher came up second in the shot put with a distance of 42-8.75 inches.
Those Blue Devils who have qualified will head to Boston for the IC4A/ECAC Championships next weekend.
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