Indoor track program has hurdled back into action

Muhlenberg track hosts their first meet of 2022 with some great results from many Mules athletes.

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photo by Rebecca Clark '23 / High Jumper and Team Captain Ben Arehart '22

After a month hiatus, the Muhlenberg track team hurdled back into their indoor season excited to compete. Many of the members, being dual-athletes and devoted students, have found much success thus far. After great results at the Moravian Invitational, the Mules hosted their opponents at home this past Friday, Jan. 28, for the first time in 3 years. The opponents included the men’s and women’s teams from the Universities of Arcadia, Gwynedd-Mercy, Desales, and Neumann. 

To name a few of the program’s impressive results, Noah Halterman-Mitchell ‘24, Kyle Tassone ‘23, Hayden Klein ‘25 and Jason Ivey ‘23 took up four of the top five slots in the men’s 800-meter race. Erica Borbi ‘24, Corrin Ferrizzi ‘22, and Emily Marr ‘24 were three of the top five finishers as well in shot put.

John Panny ‘23 placed first in the triple jump and long jump at 6.97 meters, breaking his own school record. “We’re pretty versatile as a whole,” says Panny, “a lot of kids on the team can compete and excel in a bunch of different ways.” To no surprise, the Mules have been doing just that in various events. 

Captain Pat Smurla ‘22 adds, “I’d say overall there are a lot of people who are shooting to keep beating their personal bests and many also shooting for school records or to crack the Muhlenberg all-time top 10 list in their event. Additionally, for the team, we are looking to do well again at the conference meet at the end of February. We already have a lot of athletes who qualified for the conference meet but we want to place in the top five schools at the meet.”

The athletes take advantage of this winter season to not only put new records on the board but to get a head start on their upcoming spring season. Abby Dalton ‘22 expressed, “Winter track is a great time to build up strength for the spring season, so that’s what I’m focusing on right now.” 

“As far as the sprinters and hurdlers, Coach [Stephen] Register is focusing on getting everyone strong for our outdoor season by running 400s at every meet indoors. He’s trying to get our form and techniques better before outdoor as well so that we can focus more on our specific events,” says Kayleigh Durning ‘22. This short season is a perfect opportunity for the coaches to prepare their athletes for what is to come in the spring. 

Although the sport is strongly reliant on individual effort, captain Ben Arehart ‘22 explains that, “Track is simply not an individual sport. Of course, athletes have specific events that they focus on, however, the role one has on the team is not defined by one particular event.” He continues, “I speak for myself and several individuals on the team when I say this, the support teammates give during competition without a doubt contributes directly to the success of other events, and in turn, impacts the success of the team as a whole. This aspect is what brings us together as a group, because track [& field] is ultimately a long battle against yourself and your internal goals.” 

Arehart’s view on the program seems to be widespread. Dylan DeMagistris ‘24 adds, “The energy of the team is contagious and personally makes me perform at a higher level”. 

Hopefully, that same energy will bring the team more success at the NYC Division III Invitational meet on Wednesday, Feb. 2. 

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