Ruckel smashes 5K record in final career race at SWAT Meet

CHESTER, Pa. – Three Salisbury University track and field athletes ran their final career races at the Swarthmore Final Qualifier Meet, hosted by Swarthmore College on the campus of Widener University, on Monday evening at Leslie C. Quick, Jr. Stadium.

RESULTS

HOW IT HAPPENED

Sydney Ruckel capped her storied career with one more record-breaking performance, smashing her own school record in the 5,000-meter run with a time of 17:51.03 and an 11th-place finish. Ruckel shaved 22 seconds off the school record of 18:13.92 that she set last month.
Ruckel leaves Salisbury as a four-time school record holder. In addition to her 5,000-meter mark, she holds the best time in SU history in the indoor 3,000 meters (10:32.67), indoor 5,000 meters (18:24.74) and outdoor 10,000 meters (38:13.94).
"This was a historic race, as Sydney became the first woman at our school to break 18 minutes," said Sea Gull head track and field coach Jim Jones. "We're so happy for her and proud of this final accomplishment to go with all of the others in her historic career."
Heather Delaplaine broke five minutes in the 1,500-meter run, crossing the line in 4:59.47 to finish 24th.
Justin Speirs ran his last 400-meter hurdles in 57.84 seconds, taking 12th place.

UP NEXT

Those Sea Gulls who qualify will head to Geneva, Ohio, on May 26-28 for the 2022 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field National Championships.
As of press time, two Salisbury athletes are in line to qualify for nationals. Rashawn Markman ranks seventh in the nation in the triple jump (14.89m, 48-10.25), while Cameron Hasko carries the 13th-best javelin throw mark (60.40m, 198-2).

Salisbury University is a proud member of NCAA Division III with primary membership in the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference, along with the New Jersey Athletic Conference for football and the Metropolitan Swimming and Diving Conference for men's and women's swimming. With over 500 student-athletes in 21 varsity sports, SU is recognized as one of the most competitive intercollegiate athletics programs regardless of division, and dedicated coaches and staff that foster excellence on-and-off the field. The Sea Gulls have celebrated 22 team national championships, 24 individual national champions, 189 conference championships and 41 Academic All-Americans.

To learn more about the tradition of excellence with Sea Gull Athletics, visit www.SUSeaGulls.com or on social media @SUSeaGulls.

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