ITHACA, N.Y. -- Originally scheduling the team for a weekend off, the Cornell coaching staff decided to organize a meet in Ithaca after learning of terrific spring-time weather forecast for the weekend. Joined by athletes from Syracuse, Ithaca College, RIT, Roberts Wesleyan and Houghton, the turn-out and weather was even better than expected at the first-ever Cornell Easter Weekend Open, held on Friday and Saturday at the Robert J. Kane Sports Complex at Cornell. With temperatures cresting 80 degrees (although fierce 25 mile per hour winds that up-lifted tents and finish-line cameras staked to the turf made many events very challenging), the Big Red was able to get in another weekend of outdoor competition.

The Big Red men won 12 events and had 14 IC4A qualifiers, along with a new school record. Sophomore Nick Huber continued his return from a hamstring injury suffered indoors by setting a new school record in the decathlon, scoring 7,019 points, running 10.94 in the 100, long jumping 22-1 3/4, shot-putting 37-3, high jumping 6-7 1/2, running 49.94 in the 400, 14.87 in the 110 hurdles, clearing 12-11 1/2 in the pole vault, throwing 153-11 in the javelin and then running 5:03.44 in the 1500. Competing in the first day of the decathlon, senior Josh Kirkpatrick long-jumped 25-4 3/4 (#4 all-time) and ran 10.84 in the 100, both IC4A qualifiers. Another big highlight on the weekend came in Saturday's long jump as senior Duane Teixeira reached 25-10 3/4w, #2 all-time at Cornell in the long jump (he had a second jump at 25-10w) to win; he also placed first in the triple jump at 49-10, an IC4A qualifier. Sophomore Bob Belden had another good day, winning the shot put at 51-6 3/4 and the discus at 161-3, both IC4A qualifiers. The 400 hurdles was also a highlight for the Big Red: despite the wind, three Cornellians bettered the IC4A standard. Sophomore Ken McClain placed first in 53.08, classmate Brian Freitas was second at 53.11 and senior Mike Kippins was third at 53.70. Junior Rick Semenick had a nice breakthrough, running 21.73w to better the IC4A standard in the 200; he was followed by senior Marcel van Eeden (who also won the 400 in 49.01) in 22.86 and junior Chris Tait (22.03). Junior Andy Ahart placed second in the 100 in 10.83w to also qualify for the IC4As. The Big Red's other IC4A qualifier on the day came from sophomore Dan Hagberg, who won the 110 hurdles in 14.75. Also placing first was sophomore Chris Jakobson, who won the 800 in 1:59.21. The 4X100 of Ahart, junior Brad Herynk, Tait and junior Brian Tan won in 42.56 and the 4X400 of van Eeden, Kippins, Freitas and sophomore Dan Thomas ran 3:18.6 to place first.

The women won eight events and had five ECAC qualifiers. Junior Kim Lienhoop led the way, winning the long jump in an ECAC-qualifying 19-3 1/2 and then came back with a big PR in the triple jump, placing second in an ECAC-qualifying 39-8w, #9 all-time. Also jumping well was freshman Rebecca DeLong, who was second at 188 1/2. Junior Cassie Schweighofer also won and had an ECAC qualifier, taking the discus with a heave of 146-4; freshman Claire Dishong also bettered the ECAC standard with a throw of 142-1 for second. Sophomore Erin Rossi won the hammer with a throw of 15-03 and freshman Emily Koppelman was second in the shot put at 38-6. Also doing well in the field, despite the heavy winds, were the pole vaulters: senior Natalie Gengel cleared 12-1 1/2 to better the ECAC standard; sophomore Sam Brady was second at 11-7 3/4, Dishong was third at the same height and freshman Lindsey Patterson was fourth at 11-1 3/4. On the track, senior Caroline Heidt won the 1500 in 4:39.57, an impressive performance in the windy conditions. Sophomore Meghan Brown (4:44.34) and freshman Genna Hartung (4:44.93) were second and third. Freshman Kelsey Karys was first in the 3000, running 10:02.9 despite heavy wind gusts and classmate Cara Costich was second in 10:25.9 with sophomore Shelby Herman third in 11:03.1. Senior Lindsay Broyhill looked strong in winning the 800 in 2:15.81; freshman Maria Catanzarite (2:18.11) and junior Anna Scull (2:18.68) were second and third. Sophomore Bry Bonavita won the 400 in 59.97 to tally the Big Red's other event win. Also competing well for Cornell was freshman Mercy Gbenjo in the 100 (2nd, 12.36), sophomore Karen Schillinger in the 110 hurdles (2nd, 15.15) and the high jump (2nd, 5-1) and freshman Sonate Dan-Princewill (2nd, 5-1).  

Complete results of the meet can be found at:
Easter Open Results

Decathlon results can be found here:
Decathlon Results

Next up for Cornell is the Bucknell Invitational on April 9-10 in Lewisburg, PA. After that, the Cornell women will host Pennsylvania at the Kane Sports Complex on April 17 in the quadrennial Cornell-Penn dual meet while the men will compete at the Moravian and Cortland Invitationals on the 17th. The Penn Relays are April 22-24 and then Cornell hosts two more meets to close out the regular season: the Big Red Invitational on April 25 and the Cornell Invitational on May 1.