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The Syracuse Orange track and field team wasn’t in contention for the team titles at the ACC Indoor Championships but the Orange received several strong performances. Highest among them was Paige Stoner’s win in the 5000m with a time of 16:06.48. Stoner took over the lead right before the final lap and turned in a 31 second final 200m to hold off Dorcas Wasike from the Louisville Cardinals. This is Paige’s 1st indoor ACC title which gives her one ACC Championship in each of the three seasons. Laura Dickinson took 4th in the 5000m with a time of 16:12.22.
In the 3000m Rachel Bonner grabbed 4th place in a time of 9:25.67 and right behind her was Stoner in 5th (9:26.52) and Dickinson in 6th place (9:26.57). Aviana Goode scored the other Syracuse points with her 7th place finish in the pentathlon. Kadejhia Sellers made the finals of the 400m but did not compete after a false start in the 200m. Syracuse was 10th in the team competition which was won by the Miami Hurricanes.
For the men, Iliass Aouani delivered a 2nd place finish in the 3000m (8:00.99) and a 3rd place finish in the 5000m (14:07.75). Noah Affolder was 6th in the 3000 (8:04.68) and 10th in the 5000 (14:22.27) while Michael Phillips and Aidan Tooker doubled in the mile and 3000m. Tooker finished 4th in the mile (4:05.23) and 10th in the 3000 (8:14.67) with Phillips finishing 5th in the mile (4:05.48) and 9th in the 3000 (8:13.31). Nathan Henderson was 8th in the mile in 4:08.35.
Syracuse’s other top scorer was Matt Moore who finished 3rd in the 60m hurdles in a time of 7.83. The Orange men ended up finishing 7th while the Virginia Tech Hokies and Florida State Seminoles tied for the men’s team title.
Final declarations for the NCAA Championships will be announced tomorrow. With only 16 athletes being selected to compete in each event, Syracuse’s best chances will be Aidan Tooker (25th in the Mile), Iliass Aouani (26th in the 5000m), Paige Stoner (27th in 5000m) and Matt Moore (27th in the 60m hurdles). If Syracuse gets an athlete into the meet, we’ll certainly preview their chances.