Rams conclude Spring Break trip in Tampa

Cornell's track and field teams took home three more event titles from their final competition over Spring Break, which concluded Friday at the University of South Florida Collegiate Invitational.

Junior Adam Rooyakkers beat 41 competitors in winning the 800-meter run while senior Kirkwood Donavin and junior Chase Nowak finished 1-3 in the men's mile. Madison Craw led the Cornell women with a title in the shot put at the non-scored meet.

The Rams opened the trip March 26 in Atlanta, Ga., where the team claimed four individual titles at the Emory Classic.

"In both meets we had some really good performances and some average performances," said Cornell head coach Lonnie Speidel, who took 33 athletes on the trip. "Some of our athletes really took advantage of the opportunities down there."

Rooyakkers posted a tight victory in the 800, crossing the finish line in 1 minute, 56.32 seconds. He held off runner-up Kevin Harley of Tampa by .32 seconds to notch his first title of the outdoor season. Junior teammate Chris Stadler finished seventh in the race (1:58.88).

Donavin, who won the 800 at the Emory Classic, ran away with the 1500 title Friday with a mark of 3:55.95. He was the only competitor in the 48-man field to break 4 minutes. Nowak clocked in at 4:01.83 to finish third.

Junior Marshall Kraker placed well in the field events. He recorded fourth-place finishes in the shot put (42-0), discus (116-4) and javelin (160-0). Freshman Jonathan Araujo took third in the discus (119-0). Jackson Engstrom was fifth in the hammer throw (94-4).

Craw earned her third title of the trip with a shot put mark of 41 feet, 6 inches, beating her closest competitor by nearly two feet. She also placed fourth in the hammer throw (146-10).

Senior Allie Jagielo was third in the 3000 steeplechase, finishing in 11:48.10.

Coming up - The Rams host the Cornell Open Saturday, April 9 at Ash Park Stadium. Field events begin at 10 a.m., followed by the running events at 11 a.m.

The Cornell men crowned five event champions at last year's home meet and won the team title with 118 points. The women placed third with 62 points.