Junior Brandon Olden set his second school record in as many meets during indoor track season, leading the Saints in an impressive day at the NYC Gotham Cup Friday afternoon. The regional event took place at the famed Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in Staten Island, New York.
The Chestertown, New York native ran a mark of 4:07.67 in the men's mile to place second overall and overcome the previous record of 4:11.76 set by program great Evans Kibet back in 2019. Olden also set the school record in the 5000-meter event back in December.
Senior Olivia Lomascolo also began 2022 with a bang in the women's mile, placing second overall for the second-fastest mile time in school history at 4:53:89, becoming only the second female Saint to go under five minutes. Junior Delia McDade Clay was not far behind, placing fifth with a mark of 5:03.79. Sophomore Killian McNamee (4:16.49) and freshman Jackson Cayward (4:16.56) placed sixth and seventh, respectively, in the men's mile.
The Saints put forth more solid times in their second straight weekend of action, beginning with the 5000 meter race. Junior Elaine Atanasova placed second for the women with a new personal best time of 17:43.34, while freshman Julia Caputo (18:44.48) placed fourth and sophomore Katharine Hesler (19:04.93) took sixth. Sophomore Ryan Shanahan placed third on the men's side with a time of 14:53.35.
The women's 1000 meter race featured freshmen Keira Flaherty turned in the second-fastest time in school history with a second place finish of 3:05.05. Sophomore Jennifer McClintock took sixth place with a time of 3:10.99. Junior Matthew Laframboise led the charge on the men's side with a seventh place finish of 2:34.38.
The Green and Gold also shined in the 3000 meter event, with graduate student Regina Rosati placing second with a mark of 9:56.92. Junior Tommy Anderson also took second on the men's side with a time of 8:37.01, while freshman Luke Tkaczyk (fourth, 8:38.58) and sophomore Tom Ragone (fifth, 8:39.11) followed behind.
Siena also saw the season debut for a runner in a short-course event, with senior and school record-holder Holly Bednarek racing in the 500 meter race with a time of 1:23.49 and a 14th place finish. Sophomore Isabella Painter led the way in the women's 800 with a time of 2:36.03, sophomore Griffin Cooke ran 2:01.42 in the men's 800 to finish 11th.
The Saints rounded out the meet with multiple relay runs, highlighted by the team of Lomascolo, freshman Claire Gardner, Flaherty, and McDade Clay taking the top spot in the women's 4x800 relay (9:40.68). The men's team of McNamee, Cayward, Laframboise, and freshman Chris Bertola also finished first with a mark of 8:08.00.
Siena will attend a pair of meets next weekend, with select runners headed across town to the Great Dane Classic on Friday, January 28, and others off to the John Thomas Terrier Classic in Boston January 28-29.
