RIVERDALE, NY — Darion Lopez and Martina Martinez have more in common than being veteran sprinters for the Manhattan University Track & Field program. Both broke school records this year, ensuring their Jasper legacies would not be forgotten anytime soon. 

Neither Lopez nor Martinez went on a limb this year, declaring they would break school records. However, from the beginning of the year, a different mentality within the program struck a chord. For the top performers, this meant a certain level of buy-in to become the best version of themselves. 

“This year was harder than last year,” Martinez said.  “We had a lot of chats (with coaches). We had to lock in and take care of ourselves.”

Martinez made her last act in a Jasper uniform her best one. She toppled the 400m field at the MAAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships on May 11 to win the gold medal with a school record-breaking time of 1:00.93. Martinez’s fast trek surpassed former record holder Lisa Edwards, who ran a 1:01.25 back in 2000.

“I just wanted to go for it,” Martinez said about setting the new school record. “It was something I wanted to do, being a senior.”

It also felt like redemption for Martinez after last year’s fifth-place showing at the MAAC Outdoor Championships. Martinez admits that last year, she took the field of competitors for granted, dropping to fifth after winning her preliminary heat. Martinez was adamant about leaving it all out on the track this year.

“Last year I didn’t do what I was supposed to do,” Martinez said. “I worked so hard and felt stronger this year.”

Meanwhile, Lopez’s journey to school-record holder happened fast — literally and figuratively. Running a 6.84, he set the school record in the 60m event at the Giegengack Invitational in New Haven, Connecticut, on February 15.

“I’d been racing in the 60s up to that point, and I was never really that close,” Lopez said. “But that’s how it goes. It’s such a short race… You either do it or you don’t.”

Lopez even recalled the similar experience that previous record-holder Kaya Simpson went through back in 2023. Like Simpson, who ran a 6.85, Lopez didn’t think he could do until it simply happened.

“The timing was so slow that day,” Lopez said, having had to patiently await the results. “Then, Coach Ena just looked at me and said, ‘you did it’ and then we all got really excited.”

Lopez also came just .01 away from the school record in the 100m, posting his best time of 10.45 in the 100m Finals at the MAAC Outdoor Championships this year. It was nothing to be ashamed of for Lopez, who had battled injuries all season and was thankful for the chance to compete. 

“I was a little disappointed but at the end of the day I couldn’t really be upset,” Lopez said. “I did the best that I could.”

With his collegiate career officially done, Lopez will continue to compete for the Philippines National Team and train under Coach Ena Leufroy-Sylvain‘s guidance. Additionally, he still has one year left with his vascular sonography program in Pennsylvania. 

“I want to be able to work and have my running career on the side,” said Lopez. “I’m still trying to figure out where I’m gonna fit everything in.”

Meanwhile, this past weekend, Martinez graduated with a degree in Digital Arts Media with her family traveling from Spain to be in attendance. The Barcelona native is grateful for her time at Manhattan after transferring from Lindenwood University two years ago. 

“Being in New York was a whole different experience,” Martinez said. 

“I had a lot of advantages at Manhattan. They provided me with everything I needed to be happy.”

Follow Manhattan Track & Field on Instagram (@jaspersxctf) and X (@Jaspers_Track).

Jaden Whitmarsh is one of the fastest-rising stars on the professional beach volleyball circuit known as the AVP Tour. However, even the best players still get caught with their hands down…

The 24-year-old got absolutely blasted in the head at a recent tournament but she lived to tell the tale!

Jaden is the daughter of the late Mike Whitmarsh, who won the silver medal at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996, so volleyball is in her blood. A former collegiate player at UCLA, she officially moved on from the Bruins program around this time last year. Although she had played AVP tournaments in the past, like in Hermosa and Manhattan, her professional career is less than one year old. It is off to a blazing start!

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA — The Central College men’s and women’s track and field programs combined to have 23 individual entries into the national top-50 lists, keeping both teams in the top-25 in the latest United States Track & Field and Cross Country Association National Team Rating Index, released Tuesday.

The Dutch men came in at No. 22 and the women are No. 24.

Points in the National Team Rating Index are based off placement in the National Descending Order Lists. The higher an athlete sits on the top-50 list, the more points he or she adds to his or her team’s total. These points do not reflect placement or scoring at the NCAA Championships but are to show the individuals and teams that have the best chances at scoring well at said meet.

Central’s women had eight individual entries and two relay squads in the national top 50 list, headlined by Olivia Bohlen (junior, Belle Plaine) at No. 3 in the heptathlon (5,045 points) and Peyton Steffen (junior, Marion) at No. 4 in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (10 minutes, 33.21 seconds).

The Dutch men had 15 individual entries, most prominently Kale Hobart (sophomore, Mason City) at No. 2 in the heptathlon (6,922 points) and Gunner Meyer (junior, Fairbank, Wapsie Valley HS) at No. 6 in the 110-meter hurdles (14.10 seconds).

The University of Wisconsin – La Crosse is No. 1 on the men’s list and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is the top women’s team heading into this weekend’s NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Geneva, Ohio.

 

PUEBLO, Colo. – The Lock Haven men’s track and field team is set to send four athletes, Matthew Muthler (Decathlon), Eric Zalar (Hammer), Ryan Miller (400-Meter) and Peter Bellomo (Javelin) to Pueblo, Colorado to compete on the biggest stage in the NCAA Division II Track and Field Championship hosted by Colorado State University-Pueblo.
 
The NCAA Division II Track and Field Championships will take place at the CSU Pueblo Thunder Bowl in Pueblo, Colorado, hosted by Colorado State University–Pueblo on May 22-24.

“Our teams have had a historic season and to have four men qualify for the NCAA Championships is the icing on the cake,” head coach Aaron Russell said. “It is such an amazing opportunity for each of them to capitalize on the hard work they’ve put in over the last 12 months.  Both Matthew and Ryan returned for graduate school this year to use their final year of eligibility, so to see their sacrifice and dedication pay off is really heartwarming.  They’ve both contributed so much to our programs and I’m really excited to see them leave their mark on the national stage.  Sophomores Peter Bellomo and Eric Zalar might be making their outdoor national debuts as well, but nobody should count them out from making runs at All-America accolades.  Both have been at or near the top of every competition they’ve competed in this year, and I think you’ll see that experience pay off in Colorado.”

 

2025 NCAA DII Outdoor Track & Field Championship

May 22 – 24 (Thursday – Saturday)

CSU Pueblo Thunderbowl | Colorado State University-Pueblo | Pueblo, Colo.

 

CHAMPIONSHIP HOME PAGE

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

LEONE TIMING

LIVE VIDEO

 

2025 Pennsylvania State Athletic Championships (PSAC) Indoor Champion and All-American in the Heptathlon, Matt Muthler, is seeded fourth going into the championship week after his record setting performance of 7355 points, which was a new point total for the PSAC All-Time, PSAC Championship meet, and a new Lock Haven program record.

 

Muthler will start the championship meet for the Bald Eagles when he competes in five of the decathlon events on Thursday (May 22). The following events on day one of the two-day decathlon will 100-Meter at 10:30 a.m. (12:30 p.m. EST), Long Jump at 1:15 p.m. (3:15 p.m. EST)*, Shot Put at 2:25 p.m. (4:25 p.m. EST)*, High Jump at 3:30 p.m. (5:30 p.m.)* and 400-Meter at 5:15 p.m. (7:15 p.m.)*.

 

On Friday (May 23) Muthler will compete in the 110-Meter Hurdles at 9:30 a.m. (11:30 a.m. EST)*, Discus Throw at 10:20 a.m. (12:20 p.m. EST)*, Pole Vault at 11:30 a.m. (1:30 p.m. EST)*, Javelin Throw at 1:50 p.m. (3:50 p.m. EST)* and 1500-Meter at 2:55 p.m. (4:55 p.m. EST)*

 

*Indicates estimate times

 

In the hammer throw, Eric Zalar earned his trip with a throw of 200-1 at the Penn Relays. The throw was the second furthest in program history. Zalar goes into the championship seeded 15th out of 22. He will throw on Thursday (May 22) at 3:30 p.m. (5:30 p.m. EST).

 

Ryan Miller is seeded 20th after his time Lock Haven program record time of 46.74 in the 400-meter. The 400-meter preliminary round will be on Thursday (May 22) at 5:55 p.m. (7:55 p.m. EST). The finals for that event will be on Saturday (May 24) at 6:30 p.m. (8:30 p.m. EST).

 

Peter Bellomo threw his best javelin throw at the Lock Haven Qualifier with a mark of 213-5, which is the fifth-best throw in program history. The throw from the Lock Haven Qualifier puts P. Bellomo 21st going into the NCAA Championship and will throw on Saturday (May 24) at 2:45 p.m. (4:45 p.m. EST).

 

NORWALK — After a history-making run through the CIF-Southern Section D9 Boys Volleyball playoffs, the season came to an end for the Calvary Chapel (Downey) team Saturday (May 17).

It was an unprecedented run for the Grizzlies, as they made school history by advancing to their first-ever championship match.

After a monumental come-from-behind semifinal victory over Beverly Hills, the Grizzlies fell short to the California Academy of Math & Science (CAMS), in straight sets, 3-0, in the final.

CAMS defeated the Grizzlies, 25-16, 25-20, 25-19.

Calvary finished the season at 7-12 overall.

The Grizzlies, however, have a bright future, as they will graduate only four seniors and will have two seniors and six underclassmen (four sophomores, two juniors) leading the way in 2026.

“That’s one of the good things about them, is having such a senior core that was able to teach and uplift these upcoming freshmen,” Calvary third-year head coach Jeremiah Mitte said. “They are the future, and I think my boys understood that as well and they did their best to try to protect and uplift as they went through (the season). My players played their hearts out.

“I’m proud for my boys and proud of everything that we were able to accomplish. It (the loss) stings, because of how everything played out and they gave everything that they had, and they are just so much stronger. (Saturday) was just not our day.”

Calvary interim athletic director Nathan Tachin, who was holding the runner-up plaque, said of the team, “I’m really proud of the boys,” he said. “They worked really hard for this. They did what they did and still am very proud of them.

“League play helped us big time and having the tie breakers really helped us, seeding-wise in the division. Even getting the runner-up is still a blessing and getting a banner in general to say, “CIF Finalists.”

Tachin had great things to say about his third-year head coach. “I’m really proud of coach (Jeremiah) Mitte,” he said. “I’ve known him for about 15 years. He actually coached me while I was in junior high and high school. He’s been put in many positions and has strived in every one of them.”

Senior outside hitter Jonah Heinz led the Grizzlies with five kills in the match, while sophomore opposite Andrew Rubio had four kills. Freshman middle blocker Blake Roemheld, junior setter Luke Neff and senior outside hitter Corey De Wit added two kills each. Senior middle blocker Alejandro Sactic had one. As a team, the Grizzlies had only 16 kills in the match.

“I’m proud of the team,” Heinz said. “We should have won that game. It wasn’t a team that we should have lost to.”

CAMS totaled 37 kills as senior opposite Alfredo Lopez led with nine kills, while freshman middle Joseph Cha and freshman outside Anay Saran added eight and seven kills, respectively.

The first set saw the Grizzlies take an early, 7-2 lead behind two kills from Heinz. The Coyotes then went on an 11-1 run to lead, 13-8. They never trailed the rest of the way.

Calvary closed to within four points, 15-11 on errors by the Coyotes. CAMS ended the set on another run, outscoring the Grizzlies, 7-2, with Heinz added his third kill in that run for Calvary.

Senior libero Stephen So led the Grizzlies with eight digs, while Heinz added five. Neff led with six assists.

The second set was even for the most part through the first 34 points, as it was tied, 17-17. Trailing, 15-8, the Grizzlies got right back into the set with four consecutive points, all while Neff was serving. He started the 4-0 run with a kill, as he tipped the ball over for a point.

That was followed by three errors by CAMS to trail by three, 15-12.

After a couple of points by the Coyotes, Calvary won three points on three more errors by CAMS, to trail, 17-16. With Roemheld serving, Sactic had a block for a kill to even the set at 17-17.

After a service error by CAMS, De Wit had a kill to trail, 20-19. However, the Coyotes finished off the set with a 5-1 run to win, 25-20 and take a 2-0 lead in the match.

Heinz and Rubio lead with two kills each in the set. The Coyotes had 11 kills to lead the way. So and De Wit led with eight and five digs each, while Neff added five assists.

With their backs against the wall and needing a win to get back into the match, the Grizzlies matched CAMS point-for-point all the way through a 15-15 tie. De Wit and Rubio had the only kills of the set for Calvary up to that point.

“The Plague” filmmaker Charlie Polinger simply wanted to make a film that actually reflected his adolescent experiences.

“I see a lot of movies about 12 year old boys that are often either a little more ‘Goonies’-style biking around at night [that are about] this kind of carefree feeling or a little more bro-y hangout kind of movies. My sense of being 12 was it was more like [a] social anxiety hellscape,” Polinger told Executive Awards Editor Steve Pond at TheWrap’s Cannes Conversations in partnership with Brand Innovators.

“You see that [represented] more commonly, I think, in movies about women or about young girls, [movies] like ‘Carrie’ and ‘Raw’ and ‘Eighth Grade.’ You don’t see it as often in films about boys because there’s a certain vulnerability to [being] the object of terror or to [feel] insecurity in your body. There’s sort of a fear of that vulnerability being shown [when it is] centered around masculinity,” Polinger observed. “I thought it could be exciting to kind of take a genre that I’ve seen more with women and apply it to a story about boyhood.”

The resulting film, “The Plague,” marks Polinger’s feature directorial debut. It follows Ben (Everett Blunck), a young boy at a water polo summer camp for boys headed by an adult male instructor (Joel Edgerton). Ben quickly finds himself torn between his fear of being ostracized and his conscience when the camp’s other boys begin to bully Eli (Kenny Rasmussen), a fellow campmate whose skin condition prompts his bullies to declare that he has “the plague” and run screaming loudly in the other direction whenever he comes near.

“I’m actually a very bad swimmer,” Polinger revealed with a laugh when asked how he conceived the film’s story. “It came from experiences I had going to some all-boys summer camps, and my experiences at those and my experiences being that age in school and in general — and wanting to tell a story that felt like it really immersed the audience in the subjective experience of being a 12-year-old boy and all of the sort of chaos and anxiety that comes with that.”

Polinger wrote the film while he was staying at his parents’ house during the COVID-19 pandemic, but it was not until Edgerton agreed to star in it years later that Polinger was finally able to put “The Plague” together. “I think at first [Joel] was actually inquiring about directing it, and I was like, ‘I really have to do this one,’” Polinger recalled. “He was [then] generous enough to offer to act in it and help produce it, just to help get it made. That was really the thing that took us over the edge and [helped us find] the financing.”

While Polinger notes that “The Plague” is not a “traditional horror film,” the thing that always excited him about the project was the chance it would give him to immerse viewers in its young protagonist’s perspective — where things that adult viewers might not think are a big deal feel like they have “like and death stakes.” “That’s where the genre stuff came from,” Polinger said, before revealing that he even looked at war films for reference.

“Every single glance and every whisper feels dangerous,” the director explained. “I really was just trying to think about how Ben, the protagonist, would feel in any given moment, and [I tried to] find ways to cinematically evoke his interior state through the external world.”

Watch the full video below.