Friend-Uhl, Ritter stamping their names on track history
Cape Henlopen and William & Mary graduate Sonja Friend-Uhl competed at the masters-friendly Music City Distance Carnival last Saturday in the women’s invitational and beat a record set by legendary middle distance runner Alisa Harvey. Sonja, 43, clocked a 4:45.6 to better the listed Masters American outdoor record of 4:46.29 set by Harvey in 2006. In 2012, Sonja set the masters indoor mile world record of 4:44.81. Sonja, a state champion at 800 meters while in high school in Lewes, competes for Atlanta Track Club. Meet director Dave Milner announced the record attempt at the starting line, which added to Sonja’s butterflies getting ready for the race. Sonja is entered in the masters 3,000 exhibition in Eugene, Ore., at the Open Nationals June 27, and she’ll compete at the Jacksonville Masters Nationals as well. Sonja instantly became a favorite among the Seashore Striders young athletes last November when she spoke to them on the eve of their national championships in Nashville. Great job, Sonja.
Ritter set for DI Steeplechase
Sussex Tech graduate and Rider university student Emily Ritter is set for the semifinals of the Division I Women’s Steeplechase at the NCAA Championships in Eugene. Ritter, who will compete in the semifinal Thursday evening at 7:30 p.m., is in the top 10 overall seed times and has a great shot at making the final Saturday night. Ritter has run 9:54 in the 3,000-meter race, hurdling four barriers per lap plus a water jump for a total of 28 barriers and seven water jumps throughout the race while averaging about 5:17 per mile. Emily has to be one of the most improved track athletes in the country as she finished 42nd of 45 at last year’s Eastern Regionals.
According to the Rider University sports website, history is being made Thursday night, and hopefully again Saturday evening.
Ritter is the first woman from the Broncs’ track & field program and just the third athlete ever from the Rider track & field program to compete in the NCAA Championships. What makes this even more unique is the fact that Ritter qualified for nationals in the 3,000m steeplechase, an event she never competed in before last year.
The first time she competed in the steeplechase, she won the 2014 Rider Invitational. The second time she ran it, she broke the Rider record and placed second at the 2014 MAAC Championships. She went on to break her own steeplechase record at the 2014 ECAC Championships to qualify for the NCAA East Regional in Florida last spring.
This year, Ritter ran a personal record 9:54.34 in the steeplechase at the NCAA Regional May 29 in Jacksonville, Fla. She placed second in her heat and seventh (of 47) to qualify for nationals.
Earlier this spring she compiled a 9:55.15 clocking at the ECAC Championships to place second and earn All-East honors. Ritter was named the Most Outstanding Performer at the MAAC Outdoor Championships this spring after winning the steeplechase and placing second in both the 1500m and the 5,000m.
Ritter and 23 others competed in the 3,000m steeplechase at nationals Thursday, June 11, in the semifinals. Ritter was set to compete in heat one, drawing lane one. The top five finishers from each of two heats plus the next two best times advance to the finals Saturday, June 13, at 5:27 p.m. The top eight finishers are awarded First Team All-America honors and the second eight are Second Team All-Americans. Rider has never had an All-American in the track & field program. History in the making.
Locals who would like to watch Ritter can try ESPN, ESPNU, ESPN3 which will all be covering the championships.
Youth Striders 3K races
The Youth Striders will host a series of 3K races in conjunction with some of the summer events to give younger athletes a lesser distance to focus on than the 5K and a jump-start to their cross country season. Scheduled already is a 3K Saturday, June 13, following the Seashore Striders 5K that begins at 7:30 a.m.
The 3K XC race will be on the fields of Rehoboth Elementary School and will likely start in the 8:30-8:45range. Register at 8 a.m., but be careful driving in as the 5K will be in session.
The second 3K will be during the Bill Degnan 5K, which will be Sunday, June 28, at Cape Henlopen High School. The final two races will be announced at a later time. Registration will be onsite for $15.
Upcoming races
Saturday, June 13 - Seashore Striders 5K for Men & Women’s Distance Festival, Rehoboth Elementary School, Rehoboth, 7:30 a.m. (Women 7:30 a.m./Men 8 a.m.), www.seashorestriders.com.
Sunday, June 14 - Made Ya Look! Salon & Spa Inaugural 5K for Children’s Beach House, Rehoboth Beach, 8:30 a.m, www.races2run.com.
