Shanahan, 'Cats Take Aim at New England Indoor Championships

Friday, February 2

3 PM

University of New Hampshire

New England Championship

Photo by: Alec Anterni

Shanahan, 'Cats Take Aim at New England Indoor Championships

2/1/2018 4:26:00 PM | Men's Track & Field

DURHAM, N.H. – The University of New Hampshire track and field teams will travel to Northeastern University this weekend to participate in the New England Indoor Track and Field Championships.

The New England Indoor Championships, the second oldest-indoor meet in history, will contain a field of New England area programs, from Division III all the way up to Division I.

Senior Michael Shanahan (Dover, N.H.) leads UNH into the New England Indoor Championship weekend with a stellar season already in the weight throw, throwing over 70 feet in his last three meets.

UP NEXT:
The 'Cats are back in action next weekend at the annual David Hemery Valentine Invitational in Boston on Friday, Feb. 9, and in a dual meet in Orono, Maine with the Black Bears on Saturday, Feb. 10. After a weekend off, UNH then travels back to Boston for the America East Indoor Championships on Friday, Feb. 23 and Saturday, Feb. 24.

LAST TIME OUT:
In the Terrier Invitational, Michael Shanahan took first place in the weight throw, missing his personal best by a foot, with a 71 foot, eight inch throw, a full 10 feet further than the second-place thrower. Shanahan, who has already broken the school record in the weight throw three times this season, and his latest record break is still ranked for fifth in the nation.

In the shot put, Nicholas Ritzo (Rye, N.H.) and Zachary Astle (Newbury, N.H.) finished third and fourth in the shot put. Ritzo, who finished third, threw 52 feet, 3.25 inches, just under one foot shy of his career-best, which he threw against Holy Cross (53'2.5"). Astle took fourth with a best throw of 51'6.25". His personal best came in the outdoor track championships last season (51'3").

In Durham, the Wildcats took several key field events, including the long jump, which was a one-two top finish for UNH. Christopher Gansfuss (Flemington, N.J.) took first with a 20-foot, 2.5-inch jump, followed by Ryan Dutille jumping 19'11.75".

In the triple jump, Jordan Buckmire took first with a 43-foot, nine-inch jump, just under a foot short of his personal best he set in December of 44'5".

UNH also won the weight throw, with Edward Speidel (Dover, N.H.) taking first with his longest throw of 55 feet. Cullen Aubin (Warwick, R.I.) took second with a throw of 51'0.5".

On the track, Christian Ehlers (Kingston, N.H.) took first in the 500m run with a time of 1:10.02, and the Wildcats also swept the 4x400m and 4x800m relays. The team of James O'Brien, Ehlers, Joseph Hook (Rockaway, N.J.), and Frederick Schaake took first in the 4x400m in 3:33.74. In the 4x800m, the team of James Busi (Plastow, N.H.), Aidan Sullivan (Nashua, N.H.), Cody Symonds (Alton, N.H.) and Nicholas Brown (Conway, N.H.) took first in 8:21.67.

FROM THE COACH:
"This meet is another chance for us to keep improving on our 'big meet' mentality. We're trying to place as high as we can and transfer that success to the conference meet."

-- Coach Jim Boulanger

"The New England Championships is the second longest indoor meet in history, and it's really the last of its kind; you've got a field of all the New England schools, regardless of division. It's a really unique meet."

-- Coach Jim Boulanger