BOSTON, Mass. – Redshirt sophomore Brian Luciano, junior Alyssa Armitage and graduate student Josh Stone each defended their individual conference crowns, highlighting Binghamton's performance during Day One of the America East Indoor Track & Field Championships on Saturday at the Boston Track & Tennis Center. With one day remaining in the meet, both the Bearcat men and women's teams are in second place out of nine teams. Six out of 20 women's events have been scored as have five of the men's events.Â
Luciano won his second straight men's weight throw title with a distance of 71-2 ½. That broke his own school record of 70-1 ½, which he set at the Penn State National Open back on Feb. 1. The Bearcats also got a sixth-place finish in the men's weight throw from sophomore Jose Iraola-Ceely (56-6 ¼).
Armitage captured her third consecutive women's pole vault crown with a height of 12-7 ½. In the process, she became the first Binghamton female to win three straight individual conference titles since Jessica Hennig won the indoor 400 from 2010-12. In addition, Armitage is the first Bearcat ever to win three women's pole vault championships during her career.
Also in the pole vault on Saturday, sophomore Tatum Norris tied for third place with a height of 11-7 ¾. Later in the day, she qualified for the Sunday's 200 final by winning her preliminary heat.
As for Stone, he used his signature final last kick to repeat as the men's 5,000 champion. His time was 14:09.60. Dating back to last February, Stone has now won three America East 5,000 titles - including the conference outdoor crown last May.Â
Graduate students Gianna Hoose and Penelope Paldino each turned in runner-up performances. Hoose was second overall in the women's weight throw (59-11 ¾) while Paldino was second in the pentathlon (3,380 points). Earlier in the day, Paldino qualified for Sunday's 60 hurdle finals.
Fourth-place finishes on Saturday were turned in by sophomore Putu Sutayasa in the men's long jump (23-0), freshman Jacob Park in the pole vault (15-6 1/4), sophomore Deborah Estabine in the women's weight throw (57-4 ¼) as well as junior Sydney Leitner in the women's 5,000 (16:57.19).
The second and final day of the America East Indoor Championships begins Sunday at 10 a.m.Â
TOP MEN'S FINISHERS
Brian Luciano, 1st, Weight Throw (71-2 1/2)
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Josh Stone, 1st, 5,000 (14:09.60)
Putu Sutayasa, 4th, Long Jump (23-0)
Jacob Park, 4th, Pole Vault (15-6 1/4)
Jose Iraola-Ceely, 6th, Weight Throw (56-6 1/4)
TOP WOMEN'S FINISHERS
Alyssa Armitage, 1st, Pole Vault (12-7 1/2)
Gianna Hoose, 2nd , Weight Throw (59-11 3/4)
Penelope Paldino, 2nd, Pentathlon (3.380)
Tatum Norris, T3rd, Pole Vault (11-7 3/4)
Sydney Leitner, 4th, 5,000 (16:57.19)
Deborah Estabine, 4th, Weight Throw (57-4 1/4)
Logan Wheeler, 7th, Pentathlon (3,092)
Jennifer Mui, 7th, 5,000 (17:26.19)
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