The Story
LaRoche Captures Pole Vault at GMU Invitational
As a two-time defending CAA champion, there was no doubt that big things were expected of senior Charlotte LaRoche this season. However, LaRoche has been nothing short of perfect in her signature event, the pole vault, in the early stages of the 2004/2005 winter track campaign. On Saturday, she captured her second win of the season when she cleared 11'5.75" to win the GMU Father Diamond Invitational, held only minutes away from her hometown in Centreville. Her mark was good enough to qualify for the season-ending ECAC's, a feat she also accomplished with her win in the CNU LidLifter meet on 4 December.
LaRoche will next be in action when she leads the four-time defending CAA champions women's track team at the Maryland Invitational in College Park on Saturday, 22 January.
Also competing at the Maryland Invitational will be the men's team in what will be their first action of the new year. The two-time defending CAA champs began the season at the CNU Lidlifter meet on 4 December. Cross country All-American Christo Landry posted the Tribe's only win at the event, taking the 5,000 meter with a winning time of 14:26.28. Teamates Jeff Hedley and Ian Fitzgerald claimed second and third place, respectively. In the shotput, Tribe senior Nick Hecker-Thompson placed second with an effort of 48'10.5". After the Maryland Invitational, the team will be back at Christopher Newport for the CNU Indoor Classic on 28 and 29 January.