Meet Results (Men)
Meet Results (Women)

ONEONTA, NY (May 14, 2010) – Billed as the Oneonta Last Chance meet for men's and women's track athletes from around the region, the Vassar College men's 4 x 400 meter relay team along with junior Justin Rupert in the 1500 meters, made the most of their final opportunity to qualify for the ECAC Championships by running school records in both events and earning spots at the ECAC meet on May 19 at Moravian College.

To kick off the meet for the Brewers, Rupert ran a 4:00.45 in the 1,500 meters. Later in the meet, and after three athletes competed in the 800 meters -- senior Jonathan Erickson, junior Zach Williams and sophomores Sam Wagner -- along with sprinter #Mathúe Duhaney#, ran a school record 3:22.04 to earn a spot in the ECAC's.

Rupert finished in third place in setting a new person best that shaved four seconds off his previous mark. “Justin had an amazing race, his best of the spring,” said head coach James McCowan. “From his freshman to senior year, Justin has dropped more than 20 seconds off his 1,500 meters time. After being injured last spring, he's truly a huge success story. It's exciting to see him earn a spot in the ECAC's.”

McCowan said he switched up the lineup in the 4 x 400, and the switch paid dividends. “It's exciting to see this group also qualify,” he said. “The three 800 meter runners really stepped up, and along with Mathúe, got it done for us.”

The powerful 800 meter trio of senior Wagner, Williams and Erickson led the first three places across the finish line, all running solid runs during a tiring finals week. Williams in particular had an outstanding race, setting a new personal best with a 1:53.54 mark. Wagner ran at 1:53.37 and Erickson finished in 1:53.83. “It was a good preparation run for the ECACs and each effort was between a half second and a second off a nationals time,” said McCowan.

Duhaney and senior Zach Ward both competed in the 100 and 200 yard sprints.

With most of the women's team resting and getting through finals, only a few runners competed at Oneonta. Freshman Aubree Piepmeier finished third in her 1,500 meter race, one that McCowan dubbed as a “very strong race.” She finished in 4:52, a new personal best that surpassed his previous mark of 5:05. “Aubree has shown consistent improvement throughout the season and this race was a good distance for her in preparation of the 5k at ECAC's

Senior Jenica Law set a new personal best in the 800 meters, concluding an outstanding four year career. “She's been our most versatile athlete and probably has set more personal bests than any other athlete on either team,” said McCowan.

Sophomore Laura Van Eerde finished second in the javelin with a 32.72 throw.