The University of Rhode Island men’s track and field team placed first overall at the Holy Cross Invitational last weekend as they continue their push towards the end of the outdoor season.
The Rams bested the host Crusaders, the University of Maine, the University of Massachusetts, Central Connecticut State University, Stonehill College and Providence College. Earning 168 points, their closest opponent was Maine with 134.
Following his second-place performance in the shot put with a toss of 16.64 meters, first-year Theo Puterbaugh earned Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week for the second time.
Puterbaugh finished behind fourth-year Chris Tavarone’s 16.78 meter throw in the event. Tavarone also claimed fifth place in the discus with a 44.61 meter mark. Fourth-year Alexander Baez rounded out the throwers with a win in the hammer throw, with a mark of 58.54 meters.
Other first-place finishers came from third-year Mason Brubaker in the pole vault (5.00 meters), first-year Damian Scouloukas in the triple jump (13.70 meters) and second-year Antonio Capalbo in the 800 meter (1:52.26).
Capalbo was also a part of the 4×400 meter relay team that finished second. First-year Nick Morrison, who placed third in the 400 meter, first-year Cooper Mitchell and third-year Owen Fleischer made up the rest of the squad.
”There were some pretty good competitors in that race and coming out with a victory over them felt good,” Capalbo said. “It shows the work I’m putting into myself over pretty much the whole school year. It’s just good to know that I can compete with some higher level guys so when I compete in those bigger championship meets I’ll put myself in position and try and win a title.”
Rhody grabbed the second and third spots in the 100 meter and 200 meter. Fourth-year Liam Creeley took second in the 100 meter with a time of 10.66 seconds and third-year Jarrett Young was right behind with a time of 10.67 seconds.
In the 200 meter, it was Young with the second-place finish (21.49 seconds), and fifth-year Jolon O’Connor came in third in 21.54 seconds.
Despite a historic indoor season that saw the Rams sweep the A-10 Championship, New England Championship and Intercollegiate Association of Amateur Athletics of America Indoor Championship, URI Head Coach Trent Baltzell hasn’t been satisfied with his team’s play in the outdoor season.
“In general, we have not had the performances that we’ve been accustomed to based on what we did last outdoor season and this indoor season,” Baltzell said. “I’m definitely a little worried about the postseason. It seemed like it was very easy for us during the indoor season, we felt very confident going into the championships. I think the feeling right now is a little different.”
Something to note that may have affected the team’s performance throughout the outdoor season is the weather, according to Baltzell.
“Reality is that we’re in the Northeast and March and April weather up here is not very good,” Baltzell said. “So although we can train pretty well indoors if we need to, it’s still hard to go to a meet when it’s 50 degrees and the winds are blowing 20 miles an hour.”
There are false assumptions made that a track team’s indoor and outdoor season should be the same, according to Baltzell.
”With the separation of a couple months [in between seasons], a lot of things can happen,” Baltzell said. “We’re not taking anything for granted this outdoor season.”
The Rams next compete at the Penn Relays this weekend at Franklin Field in Philadelphia.