Miami Ohio University Athletics
Scavuzzo Brings Title Home to Oxford
5/10/2018 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field, Cross Country
BUFFALO, N.Y. -Maria Scavuzzo kicked off Miami University track & field's first day at the 2018 Mid-American Conference Outdoor Championships with a record-shattering performance in the women's 10,000m. At the conclusion of day one, both teams sit in fifth place. The women have 15 points compared to 10 on the men's side.
The senior PR'd by over 40 seconds to win her first career MAC title and gain 10 points for the RedHawks. Her mark of 33:35.72 set a new MAC Outdoor Championships record, toppling Eastern Michigan runner Jordan McDermitt's record of 34:07.31 from last year.
"I am so excited and thankful that I was able to kick off the weekend with 10 big points for our team," said Scavuzzo. "Having my teammates cheer so loudly was incredible - talk about adrenaline. I think I sped up every time I passed them."
She concluded: "Miami has done so much for me in my journey as a student-athlete, and it is an honor to bring a MAC 10K title home to Oxford."
Chalk that time up as a 40-second personal best for the senior, which makes her the all-time Miami leader by a FULL MINUTE.#RiseUpRedHawks | #MACtion pic.twitter.com/Go025c6C02
-- Miami Track & Field and XC (@MiamiOH_XCTF) May 10, 2018
On the men's side of the 10K, the RedHawks picked up three points thanks to Ben Metzger and David Coffey. Metzger, who crossed seventh with a 30:57.92, gained two points. He was followed closely by Coffey and his 31:04.66, which was worth one point.
Elsewhere on the track, Miami placed six runners in championship races. Three of those came in the women's 1500m, where the top-12 finishers in the preliminaries qualify for the finals. The first member of the Red & White to cross was Alesha Vovk, who recorded a 4:40.83 to finish ninth. On her heels was Gabrielle Hesslau and a 4:41.75 that netted her 11th place. She was followed by Alex Cameron, who took 12th with a 4:43.03. The trio of seniors will race in the finals at 12:25 p.m. on Saturday.
All three RedHawks running in the prelims of the women's 1500m have qualified for Saturday's final!
🔴 Alesha Vovk (9th)
🔴 Gabrielle Hesslau (11th)
🔴 Alex Cameron (12th)#RiseUpRedHawks | #MACtion-- Miami Track & Field and XC (@MiamiOH_XCTF) May 10, 2018
In a shorter-distance race, Olivia Bechtel gained entry into the finals of the 200m with a prelim time of 24.15. The near-PR was good for eighth place, allowing her to just squeeze into Saturday's final. She placed fifth in last year's 200m as a freshman. Still left for her to run this weekend is the 400m, 4x100m, and 4x400m.
The men earned a championship berth thanks to junior Aaron Muresan. Running the men's 400m hurdles, Muresan placed third with a 53.62. The other prelim qualifier was Sarah Bruns in the women's 400m hurdles. She turned in a 1:01.51, which was good for seventh.
Aaron Muresan, the defending silver medalist in the men's 400m hurdles, qualifies for Saturday's finals with a 53.62!
Before that, though, he'll also be running the 110m hurdles prelims tomorrow at 1:20 p.m.#RiseUpRedHawks | #MACtion-- Miami Track & Field and XC (@MiamiOH_XCTF) May 10, 2018
In the field, Miami picked up three points thanks to Seth Hoffman. The freshman recorded a personal-best 169-0 to place sixth in the hammer throw and gain three points.
Friday's action begins at 10:30 a.m. with the 110 hurdles for the men's decathlon. Zane Shreve is representing Miami in the ten-event competition and currently sits in eighth place with 3,208 points. Live results for the day will be available here, and a full recap will be available at the end of the day.
Players Mentioned
