STLCOP Men’s Track Team is Conference Runner-Up, Alec Daily Named KIAC Track & Field Athlete of the Year
In its first year of competition, the Eutectic men’s track team headed to Berea, Ky., for the KIAC
 |
| Alec Daily |
Daily competed in seven events, winning three, and scoring an impressive 37.5 points for the Eutectics. After winning the long jump (20 feet, 11 inches) and triple jump (40’3.75”), taking third in the high jump (5’10” in his first-ever high jump competition), and 400-meter (51.88 seconds), fourth in the 200-meter (23.89), and seventh in the 100-meter (12.38), Daily had enough stamina to run the third leg of the conference champion 4 x 400-meter relay. The relay team of Tyler Edwards, David Baker, Daily, and Amr Abualnadi beat the Berea team by more than four seconds, capping off the meet on a high note for the Eutectics. “It was definitely fun,” Daily said with a laugh. “I wasn’t happy with a couple of the performances, but I guess that comes with needing to be in four different places at once.”
Fourth-year Abualnadi became conference champion in two individual events at the meet: the 800-meter and 1,500-meter races. After breaking his previous STLCOP record and blowing away the Berea competitors in the 1,500 (4:12.85), he had enough steam to also take away the 800 title (2:02.07) before anchoring the 4 x 400 relay, finishing with 22.5 points for the Eutectics.
 |
|
Front row: Courtney Wiedemer, Silvio Flaim, Jordan Robertson, Andy Mou, David Baker, Alec Daily, Head Coach David Baker Back row: Tyler Edwards, Tyson Davis, John Love, John Tedder, Amr Abualnadi |
For the first time ever, STLCOP had entrants in the throws, thanks to Robertson, third-years John Tedder and Tyson Davis, and second-year throws specialist Andy Mou. Another late addition to the team, Mou took second in shot put (12.50-meters, 41’.0”) and discus (30.99-meters, 101’8”), while placing fifth in his first-ever hammer throw attempt (20.05-meters, 65’9.25”), scoring 18 total points.
First-year Tyler Edwards had 17.5 points for the Euts, scoring in five events including the two relays, second in the 110-meter high hurdles (16.80), fourth in the 100 (11.97), and sixth in the long jump (5.64-meters, 18’6”).
Third-year cross country veteran David Baker not only scored 10.5 points through the 1,500 (4:15.03) and 4 x 400 races, he also came out of his comfort zone to score in the field events. After running down the runway and jumping with the triple jumpers at practice last week, Coach Baker made the decision to enter Baker in the triple jump. It was a wise decision, as Baker took third place in the event, jumping 37’11.5” and creating a STLCOP sweep of the top three places in the triple jump.
Other Eutectics to score in the meet included third-year Silvio Flaim, who took third in the 10,000-meter (37:27.49), John Tedder, who took sixth in the javelin (39.20-meters, 128’7 .25”), and STLCOP’s lone women’s team member Courtney Wiedemer, who took third in the women’s 5,000-meter (23:37.40).
Despite short preparation time, the terrific results of the conference meet have created excitement for next year. With a little more practice time and a few more bodies, the conference title could be within reach next year.
STLCOP Men's Indoor Track & Field Records
| Event | Name | Time/Distance | Date | Meet |
| 400m | Alec Daily | :54.52 | 2/6/2010 | Jim Green Invitational (Illinois College) |
| 800m | David Baker | 2:03.6 | 2/6/2010 | Jim Green Invitational (Illinois College) |
| Mile | Amr Abualnadi | 4:42 | 2/6/2010 | Jim Green Invitational (Illinois College) |
| 5000m | Silvio Flaim | 17:21 | 2/6/2010 | Jim Green Invitational (Illinois College) |
| DMR |
Amr Abualnadi, Tyler Edwards, Alec Daily, David Baker |
11:16.8 | 2/6/2010 | Jim Green Invitational (Illinois College) |
STLCOP Men's Outdoor Track & Field Records
| Event | Name | Time/Distance | Date | Meet |
| Triple Jump | Alec Daily | 41'3.75" | 4/2/10 | Washington University Inviational |
| Long Jump | Alec Daily | 6.38m (20'11") | 4/24/10 | KIAC Conference Championships |
| High Jump | Alec Daily | 1.78m (5'10") | 4/24/10 | KIAC Conference Championships |
| Shot Put | Andy Mou | 12.50m (41'00") | 4/24/10 | KIAC Conference Championships |
| Discus | Andy Mou | 30.99m (101'08") | 4/24/10 | KIAC Conference Championships |
| Javelin | Jordan Robertson | 40.58m (133'1.5") | 4/24/10 | KIAC Conference Championships |
| Hammer | Andy Mou | 20.05m (65'9.25") | 4/24/10 | KIAC Conference Championships |
| 110m Hurdles | Tyler Edwards | :16.80 | 4/24/10 | KIAC Conference Championships |
| 100m | Tyler Edwards | :11.97 | 4/24/10 | KIAC Conference Championships |
| 200m | Alec Daily | :23.89 | 4/24/10 | KIAC Conference Championships |
| 400m | Alec Daily | :51.88 | 4/24/10 | KIAC Conference Championships |
| 800m | Amr Abualnadi | 1:58.6 | 4/3/10 | Washington University Invitational |
| 1500m | Amr Abualnadi | 4:12.85 | 4/24/10 | KIAC Conference Championships |
| 3000m Steeple | David Baker | 10:04.5 | 4/2/10 | Washington University Invitational |
| 10,000m | Silvio Flaim | 37:27.49 | 4/24/10 | KIAC Conference Championships |
| 4 x 100m | Tyler Edwards, John Love, Tyson Edwards, Jordan Roberston | :47.04 | 4/24/10 | KIAC Conference Championships |
| 4 x 400m | Tyler Edwards, David Baker, Alec Daily, Amr Abualnadi | 3:32.90 | 4/24/10 | KIAC Conference Championships |
STLCOP Women's Outdoor Track & Field Records
| Event | Name | Time/Distance | Date | Meet |
| 1500m | Courtney Wiedemer | 6:28 | 4/3/2010 | Washington University Invitational |
| 5000m | Courtney Wiedemer | 23:37 | 4/24/2010 | Washington University Invitational |
Track Team Sets More School Records
After setting records at the indoor meet, the STLCOP track and field team moved outdoors to set more records in the College’s first-ever outdoor track meet at Washington University on April 2-3. With seven athletes competing, the Eutectics entered 10 different events and scored two total points. The competition was fierce, including several NCAA Division I teams among the 32 teams that entered the meet.
Highlights from the meet include third-year Alec Dailey’s 10th-place finish in the men’s triple jump in his first jump in more than three years. “His form was definitely raw, but getting better with each jump,” said head coach David Baker. Dailey’s best jump was his last – a jump of 41 feet, 3.75 inches. “All together he’s maybe completed ten jumps this season, so we were very pleased,” Baker said.
In the 800-meter run, both Dailey and fourth-year Amr Abualnadi were put into the slowest heat. Dailey took the race out very hard, but Abualnadi took the lead by 500 meters and won the heat with a time of one minute and 58.56 seconds, which earned him seventh place overall, out of 50 competitors, and scored the Eutectics two points in the meet. Dailey was close behind at 2:01.
Third-years David Baker and Silvio Flaim ran the men’s 3,000-meter steeple chase for the first time in their career. “Both Silvio and David were very aggressive,” said Baker. “Silvio ran a good race and finished with a time of 11:08. David’s race was excellent … he died a bit the last 1,000 meters and struggled with the steeples the last couple of laps. His time of 10:04 finished 10th overall. He lost to a [conference rival] Brescia guy by .01 of a second.”
The 4x400-meter relay was the last event for the Eutectics. Third-years Baker, Abualnadi, and Dailey, and first-year Tyler Edwards combined for the relay, battling fatigue and Abualnadi’s mid-lap leg cramp to finish the race. Before the race “the boys were all tired and questioning their ability to even complete a lap,” said Baker. “We finished with a time of 3:39.08,13th overall. Not bad for a bunch of distance kids.”
“If I were to rate the meet, I would have given us an A minus,” Baker said. “We finished with three men in the top ten of their respective events. We scored in a meet with over 30 teams competing. And, we ran some truly fast times, which was probably the most satisfying part.”
The Eutectic track team will be back in action at the Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville outdoor track meet on April 16-17.
Washington University Invitational Results:
April 2-3, 2010
Event Name Result Time/Distance
Men's Triple Jump Alec Dailey 10th 41'3.75"*
Women's 5,000m Courtney Wiedemer 55th 23:40*
Men's 3,000m Steeple Chase David Baker 10th 10:04*
Silvio Flaim 22nd 11:08
Women's 1,500m Courtney Wiedemer 24th 6:28*
Men's 1,500m Amr Abualnadi 16th 4:13.88*
David Baker 19th 4:15.91
Men's 400m Tyler Edwards 31st 54.58*
Men's 100m John Love 40th 12.28*
Men's 200m John Love 47th 25.09*
Men's 800m Amr Abualnadi 7th 1:58.56*
Alec Dailey 14th 2:01.09
Men's 4 x 400m Relay Baker, Abualnadi, Dailey, 13th 3:39.08*
Edwards
* STLCOP Record
STLCOP Track Team Makes History
The STLCOP men's track team kicked off the indoor track season with the first meet in school history. The team traveled to Illinois College for the Dr. Jim Green Invitational. STLCOP's men's team took six athletes, competed in five events, and set five new school records.
Coach David Baker took a conservative approach leading up to the first meet. "I'm thinking, we are just coming off break, we've only had three weeks of practice, and more than half our team hasn't competed in a track event in more than three years," he says. "So I had pretty low expectations. I underestimated how well the boys would do."
With runners representing 18 different schools, the meet kicked off with the 5000-meter run. Silvio Flaim was the Euts only runner. Running in the second heat Flaim ran a very even race, getting faster with each mile. Though 50-meters behind at the mile, Flaim would work his way to the front of the pack with about a half-mile to go. He went on to win the heat. His time of 17:21 would end up 10th overall. His time also was a 21 second personal record for 5k.
Next came the mile, in which Amr Abualnadi represented the Euts. Like Flaim, Abualnadi had to race in a slower heat of the mile and took control of the race half way through. "Of all of our athletes, I regret not entering Amr with a faster time," Coach Baker says. "I just didn't want to put any of them in a heat that they weren't ready for." Abualnadi cruised to a 50-meter victory in his heat running 4:42 for a 10th-place overall finish. "Both of us knew after the race that his time likely would have been faster had we got him in the fast heat," Baker says. "But it was great to see him win in the fashion he did."
With two races and two first-place heat finishes, the pressure on the rest of the Euts was mounting. But their excitement was as well.
The next race was the 400. The Euts entered three runners into the 400 and for each, it was their first race as a Eutectic. Alec Daily and Tyler Edwards ended up in the same heat. "Both got off to slower starts then they would have liked and got boxed in a bit after the break," Baker says. "But they really ran hard, and I think the race left them very hungry to run it again." Daily hit the tape first in 54.52 with Edwards finishing just a second behind in 55.68. Daily 's performance was good enough for 12th overall. John Love rounded out the Eut's 400s with his first track race in three years, running a 62.48.
The final individual performance of the day belonged to David Baker in the 800. As with his teammates Baker was seeded in a slower heat and, once again, the Eut distance runner dominated the race. "Like Abualnadi and Flaimbefore him, Baker was patient and sat back the first quarter of the race," Coach Baker says. He followed a 63 first 400 with a 60-second 400. His 2.03.55 was good for 14th place overall.
After all of the individual races, Coach Baker was optimistic about how the men would do in the Distance Medley Relay. "All of the guys had run so well without much competition, so I was excited to see how they would fair in the relay." Abualnadi led off for the Euts in the 1200 and opened with a 3:26 for the 1200. That performance would open up a 30-meter lead for the Euts. The race went their way from there. Edwards ran a slightly faster 400 than he did in the open 400 and Daily followed up with a 2:06 in the 800. By the time Baker got the baton for the mile the Euts had more than a 50-meter lead on the field. Baker finished the race strong and the Euts finishing time of 11:16.84 was good enough to win the race going away. "Winning the DMR capped a great first meet for the men," Coach Baker says. "Individually I think they were happy with their performances, but then to follow those up with a first- place finish in DMR was a great feeling for all of our guys."
The Eutectic's have two weeks to prepare for their next competition when they travel back to Illinois College.