SJC Men's Track Makes Their Mark at ECAC Championships

Troy, N.Y. - After a very successful outdoor regular season that saw individual conference champions, all-conference performances, and multiple school records fall, the SJC men's track and field program sent two relays teams composed of Jonathan Afanador, Mario Mayen, Kevin Sanders, and Brian Wersan, to the ECAC Championship meet. 

On Thursday, the Golden Eagles saw the first day of competition as the four men stepped to the line of the 4x400m relay after a downpour forced the competitors to wait in anticipation of the calling of their race.  

Mario Mayen exploded out of the blocks at the gun and flew through the first 200 meters.  With only one team just ahead he worked to track down the first position.  Kevin Sanders than grabbed the baton and found himself just behind in second place, holding off the teams behind him.  Sanders than gave the baton to Jon Afanador.  Bearing down, Afanador worked to keep the race close, but found himself behind Ithaca, Rutgers-Camden and York before handling off to Brian Wersan.  In the last leg, Wersan had to maneuver around traffic as the Eagles fell just short of passing the other teams, but were able to record the third fastest time in SJC team history. 

Day two on Friday showed weather reports of 100% chance of rain and over 20 mph winds.  Mayen began the Eagles' day running in his individual 400m event.  With the high winds at the 200 mark, Mayen came through in a more conservative pace as the field surrounded him.  However, he shifted gears as he entered the turn and never relented.  At the end of the race, Mayen had placed second in his heat and eighth overall.  This marked the first time a St Joseph's indoor or outdoor track athlete has scored at the ECAC meet. 

Just thirty minutes later, Wersan stepped to the line for the 800m.  Aware of the challenge of the wind, Wersan tucked in behind the leaders at the cut in.  Running smooth, he kicked with 100 to go, was able to win his heat and finished only 1.5 seconds off scoring, placing ninth.

The whole relay team stepped to the line two hours later for their final event of the season, the 4x800.  Afanador, running his last collegiate event, sped through the first 400 and held on to lead the team off in a very close fourth place.  After the handoff, Mayen coming off his All-ECAC performance in the 400, quickly leapt into second place and eyed the first place competitor as he ran the fastest leg of the day in 1:58.5.  Sanders than gave every effort, but could not hold on and handed off to Wersan in fifth place.  Wersan then cruised in to the finish to give the men their second best performance in school history. 

This meet concluded the outdoor season on a very positive note and will serve as an important building block for the young program going into next season.