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Danielle Fisher/Old Gold and Black

Six harriers to compete in NCAA Indoor meet
By Alex Myers
Old Gold and Black Reporter

A select group of athletes representing the Demon Deacons Indoor Track and Field program were in action this past weekend at the USA Indoor Track and Field Championships and the Alex Wilson Invitational.

Hosted at the Armory Track and Field Center at 168th Street in New York City, sophomores Nikeya Green and Carol Merritt put up superb efforts individually at the tournament, which qualified them for the upcoming NCAA Championships. Meanwhile at Notre Dame’s Alex Wilson Invitational in South Bend, Ind., a Deacon senior Chris Estwanikr was doing his best to qualify as well.

Of the strong Deacon performances, none was stronger than that of Green, a middle distance runner. While at the USA Championships, Green posted a time of 2:06.86 in the 800 meters, setting a personal best and breaking the school record. This time was also good enough to automatically qualify for the NCAA’s.

Green wasn’t the only Deacon runner breaking records, though. Merritt, a sprinter, also set a career best time by clocking a 23.78 in the 200 meters and breaking the school record yet again. This time was good enough to provisionally qualify for the NCAA’s.

Meanwhile at the Wilson Invitational, Estwanik, a distance runner, also ran a career best in his event, the 3,000 meters. With a time of 8:04.27, Estwanick finished in third place for the competition and provisionally qualified for the NCAA’s.

These three runners, as well as three other members of the squad, will be competing next at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships held at the University of Arkansas’ Randal Tyson Indoor Track in Fayettville, Ark., March 8-9.

"The goal is to have the same time that got you here and to be an All-American," said Annie Schweitzer-Bennett, director of track and field.

"Only the top eight get this. Being an All-American is very prestigious."

Green and Merritt will compete individually in their respective events of 800 meters and 200 meters. Green will be seeded 17th while Merritt will be seeded 16th. Both earned All-American honors at this event last year and will have their preliminaries on March 8.

Estwanik will be joined by his three teammates on the distance medley relay – sophomore Nathan Sisco, senior Ryan Hamilton, and junior Paul Singleton. The foursome is the two-time reigning ACC champions in the event.

They will be the sixth seed in the competition and will run on the night of March 8, while looking to improve on their ninth place finish from last year.

Having already ran the third best time in the nation this year, the team has a very high, but very possible, goal in having all six earn All-American status.

"It is a challenging (goal), but realistic for sure," said Schweitzer-Bennett. "We just need to capitalize on the opportunity in front of us."