FSU aims to build winning culture
FITCHBURG -- After winning a conference title in cross country, the Fitchburg State men's indoor track and field team is hoping some of those good vibes rub off for this season. Although success is something the Falcons look for at the MASCAC and Alliance Meets, the real goal is using the bigger meets to lift athletes as high as they can go.
Courtesy of Matt Stewart - Sentinel & Enterprise
FITCHBURG -- After winning a conference title in cross country, the Fitchburg State men's indoor track and field team is hoping some of those good vibes rub off for this season.
Although success is something the Falcons look for at the MASCAC and Alliance Meets, the real goal is using the bigger meets to lift athletes as high as they can go.
FSU will likely have strong showings at those meets and might even get representation at the National Championship. The quest for elite performances begins Saturday as FSU travels to UMass Boston for the opening meet of the season.
"We finished fourth out of the four MASCAC schools last year, but scored 100 points and were right in the thick of it," FSU head coach Jim Jellison said.
"Our season is geared toward doing as good as we can do in the MASCAC/Alliance Meet, and then focusing on getting as many guys as we can into the Division 3 New England, ECAC Meet, and All-New England Meet. We had more than 20 guys make it to the Division 3 meet last year, and I think we'll send more than 20 this year, too.
"I think we're going to have a very good team. It's going to be a lot like cross country, with a close knit team that does a lot of stuff together. We have 53 guys on the team, and I think we'll pick up some more second semester."
Ben Sattiewhite established himself as one of the best high jumpers in the nation last year as a freshman, and this year he is not only gunning for a return trip to the National meet, but is aiming for All-American status.
Sattiewhite jumped an astounding 6-09.75 last year, setting a new Fitchburg State school record in the process and this year the sky is the limit.
"Sattiewhite is coming off of football, so it's hard to say how well he'll do right now," said Jellison, who is in his 37th year at the helm. "But if he works hard at it, I think he'll get back to Nationals again in indoor this year and I think he has potential to go above the 6-09.75 he has already done.
"He just has to continue to work hard on getting stronger and working on his technique, to get better and better. It is a tremendous accomplishment for anyone to make it to Nationals, since they only take the top 15 in the country."
The distance crew nearly swept the MASCAC cross country championship, and although departed senior Eric Ouellette completed his eligibility this fall, everyone else will be joining the track team.
Brian Amaral, Jake Hastings, Anthony Darrigo, and Joesph Darrigo rounded out the top five in cross country and should be the strength of the distance events, which is the deepest aspect of the team. The four standouts will run everything from 800m to the 5K.
Timothy Allen, Matthew Cuomo, Chauncey Beatty, and Richard Ethier, IV are all shorter distance guys, while Brandon Hannon will add depth in the longer distances. With so much depth, the 4x800m relay and distance medley relays should be strong.
Ken Stalters has the potential to be one of FSU's best hurdlers in some time, while Kevin McDonald will compete for placing at the conference championship as well. Stalters will be a multi-event athlete along with Nicholas Levenson, and will compete in the pentathlon.
"The hurdlers in the MASCAC last year were three of the top five in all of New England," Jellison said. "So it's tough, and a highly competitive event in our conference and it will be again this year."
Senior Akhiel Willis will lead the sprints, while Kwaku Mensah and Ousmane Samb will provide depth. Willis will also take the lead in the long jump and triple jump.
Fitchburg State has an outstanding history when it comes to throwers. Joe Bernardini is the top returning weight man. Daniel Rymer, James McBride, Brendon Courtney, and Andrew St. Germain will also compete for scoring.
Anthony Berry and Austin Landress should be the most potent factors in the middle sprints.
Timothy Breen returns as the top pole vaulter, having qualified for the Division 3 New England Championship.