Nov. 29, 2010

PHILADELPHIA - The men's track and field team returns 35 letterwinners and brings in a large and talented group of 16 newcomers. Head coach Mike Glavin, entering his 22nd season, is confident that the squad has the potential to be one of the most successful teams in program history and will be a strong contender in the Atlantic 10 this year.

Leadership will come from tri-captains and distinct leaders on the team Vince Collins, Brian Guterl, and Jared Sabre. Collins and Guterl, a cross country Atlantic 10 All-Conference, NCAA-All-Region, and IC4A All-East performer bring guidance and experience to the middle and distance runners while Sabre, the team's Most Outstanding Performer last season, leads the way in sprints and relays.

"Brian and Vince give a nice blend of both the talented runner who has come into his own, and the runner with modest ability who does everything he can to get as far as he can," said Glavin.

In distance events, Collins and Kevin Donnelly are the only senior returnees, while Kevin McDonnell, a cross country Atlantic 10 All-Conference and NCAA All-Region performer last season and David Evans return to the junior class while Dan Roark, a transfer from Quinnipiac, joins the two. Jon Mazzio leads group of sophomore distance harriers including Drew Cogley, Greg Etter, and Vincent Nicastro, while four freshmen Aaron Leskow, Max Margiotta, Mike Rankin, and Sean Staltari provide depth to the distance events.

The middle distance corps, led by Guterl, has a strong class of seniors returning, including George Arcarola, Jesse Brooks, and Luke Fischer. Rising juniors are Ryan Birchmeier, Logan Hohs, Murphy O'Donnell, Dylan Wenik and junior Ryan Fenimore rejoins the Hawks after sitting out a season. Sophomore Andrew Townsend, the team's Rookie of the Year last season, returns to the middle distance events along with sophomores John Eastman, Kyle Gorczynski, and Dave Manion. Rookies joining the group are Ryan Anderson, Tom O'Kane, and Thomas Zamadics.

Returning to sprints, with Sabre leading the way, will be seniors Christopher Lau and Brian Smith, who also participate in hurdles. Tom DiNatale leads the large junior class of Wenik, Lampart, Steve Dolan, Adam Drastura, Michael Gallagher, Ian O'Hara, Royce Scrivano, and Ray Weir. Garrett Barbalinardo, David Smith, and Connor Hubschman make up the talented sophomore class along with newcomer Jorry Senestant, while freshman sprinters joining the squad are Tyler Dougherty, Derrick Henry, Peter Larmann, Ian Klinger, and Michael Yap. Henry is also a hurdler while Yap will join the Hawk jumpers, including junior John DiPersio and sophomore Vinh Nghi To.

The 4x400m, 4x800m, and distance medley relays will be the Hawks' strong suit once again, only losing two competitors and returning its core group of Brooks, Fischer, Guterl, Lau, Sabre, David Smith, Barbalinardo, and Townsend.

The Hawks' indoor slate begins with six one-day meets at Villanova's Jack Pyrah (Dec. 3), Princeton's New Years (Dec. 11), the Princeton 4-Way (Jan. 7), the Penn State Relays (Jan. 8), NYC Gotham Cup (Jan. 14), and the Princeton Relays (Jan. 22).

The remainder of the indoor schedule includes the Penn State Nationals (Jan. 28-29), Delaware Thompson (Jan. 29), and Yale Giegengack (Feb. 4-5). The Lafayette-Rider meet will be the last qualifying opportunities for the athletes leading into the Atlantic 10 Indoor Championships (Feb. 18-19) at Rhode Island and the IC4A Championships (March 5-6) in Boston, Mass.

The squad's outdoor schedule includes the Leopard Invitational at Lafayette (March 26) before the Colonial Relays in Williamsburg, Virginia on April 1-2.

Princeton's Larry Ellis Invitational (April 22-23) and the prestigious Penn Relays (April 28-30) lead up to the A-10 Outdoor Championships (May 7-8) and the IC4A Championships (May 13-15) at Charlotte. The NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regionals will be on May 20.