CUA Track and Field Teams Make a Push
Image Courtesy of CUA Sports
By John Diaz
This past weekend, on Saturday, February 5, the Catholic University of America Track and Field team participated in an indoor meet known as the Alvernia PLEX Shootout at Alvernia University in Reading, Pennsylvania. Athletes representing schools all over the region competed in various indoor events such as the pole vault, the 400-meter dash, and the shot put. Both the men’s and women’s teams shone in the 400-meter dash as senior Anna Walcutt posted a personal best, claiming the fastest 400-meter dash time in the Landmark Conference this season. On the men’s side of the event, junior Owen Shields ran a personal best time of 52.87 seconds.
Shields participates in two sports at Catholic University. As a wide receiver on the football team, he caught four touchdowns and racked up 370 yards for the Cardinals. When asked about the performance of the track and field team this weekend, he expressed humility and praised his teammates.
“On Saturday, we were clicking on all cylinders. Christian Di Nicolantonio had a great performance with a personal best and conference-leading pole vault of 4.60m.” Shields said. “All our throwers did a great job, Leoul Mulugeta and Nate Selden in the shot put and Joe Nazzaro in the weight throw. On the track, everyone ran fast–including Anna Walcutt and Ellie Bixenman–making the Landmark Conference well aware CUA means business.”
Shields then went on to comment about his belief in what the Cardinals can achieve this season.
“Respectfully, I am really confident in both our men and women’s team,” Shields continued. “The performances from this past weekend are a strong indication of the progress we’ve made and the potential we still have. The Cards are onto something and hopefully we can bring back some hardware to show for our hard work.”
As of Monday, February 7, both the men’s and women’s track and field teams rank sixth in the South Region. Both teams only trail Susquehanna University in terms of points in the Landmark Conference, but the gap could soon close. Catholic established themselves as a dominant force in the conference by having multiple team members named as Landmark Conference Athletes of the Week for the first week of February. Junior John O’Rourke was named Men’s Track Athlete of the Week while freshman Afua Agyekum was named Women’s Track Athlete of the Week. The Cards look to continue their Landmark Conference championship push with another meet this Saturday, February 12, at Susquehanna University.
