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Eagles Prepare For Patriot League Indoor Track and Field Championships
AU heads to Colgate in search of PL honors

February 21, 2003

Sean O'Brien and the AU track teams will compete in the Patriot League Championships this weekend at Colgate.

WASHINGTON — American University’s indoor track and field teams head to Hamilton, N.Y. this weekend for the Patriot League Indoor Track and Field Championships. With six returning All-League performers, AU hopes to improve on its seventh place finishes on both the men's and women's side from a year ago.

For the men, the Eagles should challenge the league's elite with a strong group of runners in the events from the 200-meters to the 5000m. AU is the defending 4x800m relay champion and owns the fastest time in the league in the distance medley relay (DMR).

Sean O'Brien, the four-time Patriot League Men's Track Athlete of the Week and All-Patriot League performer last season, anchored the DMR last week and holds the fastest time inthe league in the 1000m and 3000m.

Also returning as an All-League performer is Sean Duffy who has the second-fastest time in the 3000m and third-fastest in the 1000m. Matt Seymour is third in the 3000m and 5000m after being named to the All-League squad last season. Also an All-League performer last year, Carlos Hunt is 11th in the mile. An All-Patriot League Second-Team honoree in cross country, Phil Gaeta has the third-fastest time in the 800m and sixth-fastest mark in the 1000m.

In the sprints, Andy Ellerhorst and Angelo Ajayi lead the way for the Eagles. Ellerhorst holds the AU school record in the 500m as well as the fastest time in the Patriot League this season. Ajayi is close behind in fifth. Both are also in the top-15 in the 200m and 400m.

On the women's side, Samia Akbar is the lone returning All-League performer for the Eagles. Named ECAC and Patriot League Women's Track Athlete of the Week this year, Akbar leads the Patriot League in the 1000m and 3000m. She is also third in the mile where teammate Keira Carlstrom leads the league. A two-time Patriot League Women's Track Athlete of the Week, Carlstrom is second in both the 1000m and 3000m.

Zaia Wharton is ranked fourth in the 1000m while being ninth in the 800m. Jen Baclawski is in the top-15 in both the 3000m and 5000m, ranking sixth in the 5km and eighth in the 3km.

The meet begins on Saturday for the Eagles at 2:30 p.m. Competition on Sunday begins at 12:00 p.m.