The Stevenson University men and women’s indoor track and field team has had what they consider an impressive 2016-2017 season. The end of the indoor season is slowly approaching and the outdoor season is just around the corner.
Coach Erick Camodeca said that he and the entire coaching staff are very happy with the team’s overall performance in all events throughout their season. He added that there have been many exciting performances this season, as the teams compete against a variety of institutions from Divisions I, II, and III.
“In reality our biggest competition is ourselves for a majority of the year,” he said, adding that Widener University is the men’s biggest competition and Misericordia University is the women’s biggest competition.
Camodeca added that the entire team has been making improvements throughout the season. ‘There is always room for growth and opportunity throughout the season,” he said. However, with graduation around the corner, the team will take a few losses as they approach the end of the academic year.
Camodeca said that Devonte Williams will be the team’s biggest loss this year as the first NCAA qualifier and All-American. Notably, for the SU Challenge, Williams ran a 7.03 in the men’s 60-meter dash finals. Quenlan Dunn is also another senior graduating this year, making a mark running a 9.43 in the men’s 60-meter hurdles.
Recently, freshman Dyonne Hicks set a school record in the triple jump during the Susquehanna University Invitational on Feb. 18. Hicks qualified for the ECACs and took first place overall in the event. At the same meet, freshman Danika Ani took first place in the shot put with a toss of 12.81m. Sophomore Jess Rega took second with a 12.35m toss.
On the same day, the men also had an impressive showing. Freshman Aaron Holliday took first in the 60m dash finals with a personal-best time of 7.04 seconds, and sophomores Tylor Bailey and Malcolm Hayward finished tied for second in the same race. They both qualified for ECACs with a time of 7.10 seconds, also a personal best for both athletes.
As for the 2017-2018 season, Camodeca said the team is constantly recruiting, adding that the recruiting process never stops for any of their programs. The coaching staff is always out at meets recruiting across the country, calling, emailing, and texting all of their recruits. He explained that the staff invites a lot of recruits to visit with the team on campus as well. However, current Stevenson University students are welcome to join the team too. He also encourages anyone who is interested in trying out for the team to stop by the track and field/cross country office in Caves to find out more information.
The Erick Camodeca Show is a weekly show produced by the Stevenson University athletics communications department. They review the past weekend’s performances, and preview what the upcoming weeks will hold. The show can be streamed on Roku as well, and it is a great way for the team to expand its program outside of the Stevenson community.
