photos courtesy of Liz Berie, Point Park Athletics
Senior shotputter Vanessa Sprando throws the shot put at the SPIRE Institute on Jan. 30.

The men’s and women’s indoor track and field teams have broken numerous school records early in the young season. 

At least two-thirds of the team is made up of freshmen and sophomores.

For the men, freshman mid-distance runner Andre Bennett, sophomore jumper Jryi Davis, sophomore mid-distance runner Chris Hunt and freshman mid-distance runner Desmond Marrow have all played important roles on the team so far.

Freshman sprinter, hurdler and jumper Onon Kadima and sophomore distance runner Katie Guarnaccia have stepped up on the women’s team.

Men’s freshmen mid-distance runner Desmond Marrow was just one athlete who broke a school record during the SPIRE Midwest Indoor Track & Field Open on Saturday, Jan. 30 in Geneva, Ohio. 

Marrow’s time of 1 minute, 23.69 seconds set the school’s 600-meter dash record.

“It was my first time racing it, and it was fun, but I can’t complain about it,” Marrow said. “Even though I ran a good race, I was only one second away from nationals. Last week, I worked really hard on my speed and finish, but this week I want to work on my start because I want to try to go after it again.” 

On the field, Davis previously broke the triple jump record at the College Invitational on Jan. 22.

“It wasn’t just me who broke the record,” Davis said. “All of my jumping teammates that were there, if it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t push myself at practice, which wouldn’t make me better at the meets.”

Davis said first-year head coach Kelly Parsley is a great recruiter. 

“He knows who to get and exactly what we need for the team to make the team better,” Davis said. “He brought in amazing talent this year, especially in the cross country in the distance section.”

Freshman mid-distance runner Gary Olson broke the men’s school records in the mile and in the 800-meter run, with times of 4 minutes, 33.73 seconds and 2 minutes, 0.57 seconds, respectively. 

Hunt was originally ahead of Olson during the mile run, but Olson caught up and beat him by 0.25 seconds.

Eight total school records were broken at the first meet after winter break. Bennett broke the record in the men’s 800-meter run with a time of 2 minutes, 2.38 seconds. 

Freshman mid-distance runner Gary Olson sets a new school record in the 800 meter race during the SPIRE Midwest Indoor Open at SPIRE Institute.

Olson broke his record Saturday with his time of 2 minutes, 0.57 seconds.

“It was bittersweet that my teammate broke my record,” Bennett said. “He brought it to two minutes flat. I mean, I like the competition because I know that next week I want to try to go faster than two minutes so that I can redeem my record.”

Guarnaccia, who is already a national qualifier in the women’s 5,000-meter, broke her own 3,000-meter run record Saturday with a time of 10 minutes, 45 seconds. 

Kadima is one of many new recruits who have made an impact on the women’s team. She placed ninth in the finals of the 60-meter hurdles Saturday and already has four school records to her name. 

“It took a lot of work to break some of the records I did,” Kadima said. “I’m very proud of myself since I’ve broken four records so far. I guess that’s a really good start to my freshman year, but I know that I can do a lot more, and there’s a lot of work to be done.”

Both Point Park track and field teams return to Geneva, Ohio this weekend for the SPIRE Indoor Team Challenge.

Sophomore sprinter/hurdler Theo Washington is in position during a sprint race on Jan. 30 at the SPIRE Institute in Geneva, Ohio.