Binghamton’s track teams competed in the America East Track and Field Indoor championship this weekend at Boston University. Albany successfully defended its title on the men’s side and the women of Boston University repeated on their side. Binghamton’s men’s and women’s teams both improved to fourth place from fifth and sixth, respectively.

‘The men’s team and the women’s team competed better than I have ever seen in the last 13 years at Binghamton,’ said Binghamton head coach Mike Thompson.

The bar was set high this past weekend for senior pole-vaulter Rory Quiller, both figuratively and literally. Quiller, the recipient of the America East Field Athlete of the Meet two previous times in his career, wanted to fly higher than ever before. On the first day of the meet, he vaulted 17-8 1/2, besting his own record by two inches. This was not only good enough for a first place finish, but also for a Binghamton and America East record. This jump led to Quiller’s third career Track Athlete of the Meet award.

Graduate student Adam Goldberg had another impressive outing. Goldberg won the men’s high jump with a jump of 2.02 meters. Goldberg also placed second in the men’s 55-meter hurdles behind Albany’s Jean Juste.

The Bearcats also received points from the speed of sophomore Jimmy Massar. Massar placed third in the 200-meter dash and second in the 400-meter dash and was the second leg of the men’s 4X400-meter relay team, which placed sixth. Massar broke school records with his 400 and 200 times of 48.42 seconds and 21.98 seconds.

Freshman Chris Gaube brought in some points for the distance team. Gaube placed fifth in the 5,000-meter race and seventh in the 3,000-meter race. Sophomore teammate Adam Hill placed fourth in the 3,000 meters.

Along with Quiller, the field team shined. Big senior Kevin Hall muscled his way to third place in shot put and third place in the weight throw. His partner in crime, sophomore Justin Halleck, took second place in the weight throw, helping Binghamton dominate the event.

On the women’s side, the sprinters had a huge weekend.

Sophomore Kim Williams had quite the meet. Williams finished first in the 200-meter dash with a time of 24.21 seconds. Williams also set a school record in the 55-meter dash, finishing second with a time of 7.17 seconds. She anchored the 4X400 team, which took home first place. Rounding out the relay team was freshman Hana Wright, junior Keisha Short and freshman Deahna Vinson.

Short finished second in the 400-meter dash with a time of 56.69 seconds.

Sophomore Katie Radzik stepped it up yet again, earning the Bearcats points in distance events. Radzik took fourth place in the 3,000-meter run and second place in the 5,000 meters with a time of 17:23, 25 seconds faster than she ran at last week’s meet.

The women’s distance medley team of senior Mary Tursi and freshmen Caitlin Wright and Hana Wright and graduate student Stacy Kramer took fourth place, only 13 seconds behind the winning Boston squad.

Several of these athletes have qualified for the ECAC/IC4A meet. Quiller has reached NCAA standards and qualified for that meet, which will take place at the University of Arkansas March 9 through 11.