Bloomsburg Track Team to Compete at PSAC Championships

BLOOMSBURG -The Bloomsburg University men and women's indoor track and field team will compete at the PSAC Championship meet held at East Stroudsburg University on February 24th and 25th. The meet will run Saturday 2:00 pm until 7:00 pm and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 3:15 pm.

For the women's team, Beth Schwing (Hershey /Lower Dauphin) holds the ninth fastest 3,000 meter time in the conference. She will also compete the night before in the 5,000 meters in which she is seeded eighth (18:26). Amber Hackenberg (Middleburg /Middleburg) is seeded fourth in the 5,000 meters in a time of 18:07.47 and is seeded 16th in the 3,000 meters race (10:47.92). "Both Amber (Hackenberg) and Beth (Schwing) have some really tough women ahead of them but podium finishes are very realistic for them." said head coach Karen Brandt.

Sarah Bounds (Shippensburg /Shippensburg) and Ashley Shuck (Milton /Milton) have also qualified for the 5,000 meters event. Bounds is seeded 18th in a time of 19:02.14, while Shuck is seeded 19th in 19:42.29. In the women's long jump Connie Raineri(Gilbertville/Saint Pius X) is seeded 17th with a jump of 16'6.75".

For the men's team, Justin Shepherd (Cranberry Twp. /Seneca Valley) is seeded ninth in the 5,000 meters (15:09.89) and 17th in the 3,000 meters (8:56.06). Shepherd will be competing in the 5k/ 3k double with the 3k the next afternoon. "Justin (Shepherd) is mentally, emotionally, and physically extremely tough and determined when he gets on the track," said Brandt.

Dan Tallarico (Pittsburgh /North Hills) will be competing in the 800 meter race. Tallarico is seeded 13th in a time of 1:59.13. In the men's mile Mike Dalton (Lake Hopatcong, NJ /Pope John XXIII) will be seeded 18th in a time of 4:28.50.