BETHLEHEM, Pa. (December 8-9, 2023) – Graduate student Laura Mathews and sophomore Brandon Kiefer of the Stevens Institute of Technology track and field team posted strong numbers in the two-day Fast Times Before Finals Multi Meet, hosted by Lehigh University at the Rauch Fieldhouse. 

Kiefer finished second in the heptathlon out of 10 competitors, totaling 4,385 points. Mathews, meanwhile, competing in her first-ever collegiate decathlon, took third out of nine competitors with 2,996 points. Mathews' total is the third-highest total in program history. Program alumna Amira Dardir is the holder of the school record (3,070 points), set at the 2014 Ithaca Bomber Invitational on Feb. 15. Three weeks later, Dardir amassed 3,029 points at the ECAC Division III Championships. Mathews' converted point total of 3,018 ranks ninth in the country, while Kiefer's adjusted total of 4,410 points ranks 14th.

Kiefer was one of three Division III competitors in the field, while Mathews was one of just two DIII student-athletes competing at Lehigh's annual event. 

The Rundown

• Mathews began her first pentathlon meet with the 60-meter hurdles and the All-American posted the fastest time among the competitors, reaching the finish in 8.80 seconds. She was nearly three-tenths-of-a-second ahead of her closest competitor. She then posted a mark of 1.36 meters in the high jump and a distance of 9.06 meters to sit second through three events. Her mark in the shot put was third in the field.
• Mathews narrowly missed the top mark in the long jump, clearing 5.20 meters on her final attempt, tying Monmouth's Anne Rutledge and just three-tenths-of-a-meter behind Lehigh's Emma Sanford, the eventual event champion. Mathews improved her long jump by .16 meters from her initial collegiate foray in the event one week ago. In the final event, Mathews finished the 800-meter run with a time of 2:47.31 to finish less than 200 points out of second place. 
• Competing in his fourth collegiate heptathlon, Kiefer set a new PR by 15 points, topping his previous collegiate best of 4,370 points set at last year's MAC Indoor Championships. All in all, the Severna Park, Maryland native set new collegiate best in the 60-meter dash, the 60-meter hurdles and the pole vault. 
• In the 60, Kiefer posted the top time, finishing the race in 7.22 seconds. He then cleared 6.04 meters in the long jump and 10.92 meters in the shot put to rank first through the first half of the meet, 27 points ahead of his closest competitor.
• Kiefer would set new PR's in two of the final three events, reaching 1.70 meters in the high jump, finishing the 60 hurdles in 9.10 seconds and clearing 3.97 meters in the pole vault. Kiefer was one of just two competitors to clear 3.9 meters in the final event of the meet.

Around the Middle Atlantic Conference

• Albright competed at Ursinus' Bow Tie Invitational Friday evening. John Villano won the high jump (1.88 meters). The Lions'4x400-meter relay team was the women's top finisher, placing third. 
• Arcadia also competed at the Bow Tie Invitational. Myles Sams set a new program record in the high jump with a height of 1.78 meters (finishing third).
• Delaware Valley joined Stevens at Lehigh's event. Caleb Messenger (500 – 1:09.66) and Matthew Skikus (1000 – 3:05.60) each placed third in their respective events to pace the Aggies. 
• Eastern and FDU-Florham competed at Susquehanna's Early Season Invitational. Samanatha Peters paced the Eagles, placing third (1:04.30) in the 400, while Paige Carpenter (3.00 meters) finished second in the pole vault. Robert Walton was the Eagles' top finisher on the men's side, taking second in the 800 with a time of 2:01.77. Joseph Teresi led FDU-Florham, placing fourth in the shot put with a mark of 14.22 meters.
• King's also competed at Susquehanna's event. Brandy Varner won the shot put (11.94 meters) to pace the Monarchs' women's squad, while Travis Lane led the men's team with a second-place finish (4,149 points) in the heptathlon. Misericordia was the final MAC school at the event, with Trey Rhinehart placed third in the mile (4:31.04) and Katherine Jones was second in the 3000 (11:01.07) were the Cougars' top finishers.
• Lebanon Valley competed at Franklin & Marshall's Diplomat Open in the Dutchmen's first event of the season. Zach Reed won the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.43 seconds and the Dutchmen's 4x400-meter relay team also posted a first-place finish. Fatikha Tikhtova won the high jump (1.60 meters) to pace the women's team. Messiah joined the Dutchmen in Lancaster. Noah Calisti won the 5,000 with a time of 15:18.20, while Halle Jennett won the 200-meter dash (26.45 seconds) to lead the women's squad.
• Widener and York were the final two MAC squads in competition this weekend. The Pride were at the Bow Tie Invitational, while the Spartans were at F&M's event. Widener only had one athlete in competition as David Waters took third in the shot put (13.46 meters). Aidan Robinson won the weight throw (16.52 meters) and Andrew Mott won the shot put (15.63 meters) paced the Spartans' men, while the women had nine top-10 finishes. 
• Alvernia, DeSales, Hood, Stevenson and the Widener women were off.

Coach's Comments

• "The first multi meet of the year is always an exciting event. The heptathlon and pentathlon push our athlete's athleticism, focus, and drive to their absolute limits. Brandon Keifer and Laura Mathews both had exceptional season debuts in different ways. Brandon has been doing the heptathlon for years and still was able to begin his season with three personal bests, including his highest ever heptathlon point total. Laura had an extraordinary first-ever pentathlon, scoring one of the highest totals in program history. Accomplishing a score of 2996 is impressive by itself, but, scoring that total after only seven weeks of training for the pentathlon is truly special. Both did brilliantly and showed so much potential for future competitions. It's hard to envision a much better start to their year!" - head coach John Kolibab

Up Next

• Stevens returns to competition after the winter break on Saturday, Jan. 20 for the Alvernia University Winter Invite. Appropriate links will be posted to StevensDucks.com once available.

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