As winter turns the corner to spring, the AU men's and women's track teams look to continue their success from the indoor season in their upcoming outdoor campaign. Coming off their best finishes in school history at the Patriot League championship meet - third and fifth, respectively - the two squads now try to carry over this momentum through the rest of the season.
On the men's side, the team returns four strong starters from last year, including seniors Pat Buford, Phil Gaeta, Will Knox and Phil Turner, one of the two co-captains. These four leaders contributed in a large way last season, with Gaeta a part of the AU distance relay team that broke both the school and PL records at the league championships.
While the seniors have had the most experience on the team, it is a number of juniors and sophomores who look to the lead the team into competition this year.
Junior Dustin Emrani is the sole returning Eagle who competed in the NCAA championships last spring by virtue of his PL title in the 800-meter run, finishing sixth in his preliminary heat but failing to qualify for the finals. He has defended his PL title during the indoor season this year and will try to make it a three-peat this spring.
Joining Emrani will be fellow junior Dan Beardslee, co-captain of the men's team, as well as Alex Caudana, who finished third at the PL meet in the 800 this winter. Caudana teamed up with Emrani, Steve Hallinan and Brian McCabe to capture the 4 x 800 PL title this winter.
"These are really a core group of guys who help bring a large amount of success to the team," Beardslee said.
Leading the underclassmen is sophomore Steve Hallinan, who finished the PL indoor title in the 3,000 this winter. He set a personal record of 14 minutes 45.86 seconds in the 5,000 last spring, the fastest freshman time in that event during the 11 years that coach Matt Centrowitz has been at AU.
"He has had a huge impact on our team," Beardslee said. "It is great to be able to train with him and see how he influences a lot of the others to always improve their times."
Along with Hallinan, the Eagles will enjoy a youth movement in four new freshman, including Kevin Tschirhart, a valuable member of the distance relay team that finished second in PL indoor meet.
Unlike the men's team, which is led primarily by its younger members, the women have a proven veteran in Keira Carlstrom. The senior from Oakton, Va., has gained numerous accolades throughout her collegiate career, including winning the PL Runner of the Meet and PL Outstanding Female Track Performer last season. She also qualified for the NCAA championships in all three seasons.
This year, Carlstrom has already earned All-American honors in cross country with her sixth-place finish at the NCAA championships, as well as PL titles in the mile and 3,000.
While Carlstrom might be the most decorated runner on the women's squad, there are a number of other runners looking to have breakout seasons this spring.
Fellow senior Zaia Wharton finished second in the 1,000 at the PL meet this winter and was a teammate of Carlstrom, Catherine Hummel and Hillary Roth on the distance medley team that was runner up at the PL indoor championships.
Joining these established veterans will be junior Christina Wright, the sole field event member of the team in the discus and shot put events.
Newcomers Hummel, Meghan Mason, Allison Mathis and Emily Willard also complement the veterans. Mason set a personal-best time in the PL meet, clocking in at10:33.11 in the 3,000.
"We have a young and developing team and we are always trying to get better and better," Carlstrom said. "Every year we have improved, and hopefully this spring is no different."
Based on their success so far this year, the outdoor season could be another eventful one for both AU teams.
"Our goal is to always improve and compete well at the Penn Relays and PL championships," Beardslee said. "If we can do that, we will be able to send runners to the NCAA regional championships again"
