BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Andrew Szeplaki's (Bath, Pa./Northampton) incredible freshman season continued with a gold medal and meet record in the pole vault, leading the Kutztown University men's track & field team to third place in the team standings after the opening day of the PSAC Indoor Championships at Lehigh's Rauch Fieldhouse, Saturday.
 
Szeplaki previously set school and PSAC records by clearing 5.30m (17-4.5) at the Alvernia Winter Invitational back in mid-January. He added to his growing list of accomplishments by winning the conference title in his PSAC Championships debut and taking down the meet record.
 
The Bath, Pa., native was the only vaulter among the event's 18 entries to go over the bar at 5.20m (17-0.75), outlasting a trio of competitors from Slippery Rock. Szeplaki, who entered the meet ranked fifth in NCAA Division II, broke the former meet record of 5.15m (16-10.75) held by IUP's Derek Horton since 2019, while achieving another NCAA provisional cut.
 
Szeplaki is the sixth Golden Bear to win gold in the pole vault at the PSAC Indoor Championships all-time, joining Steve Winters (2006), Will Hodges (2010), Percell Berry (2012), Xavier Feliciano (2020) and Joe Jardine (2024).
 
Szeplaki's gold was the catalyst for a day of standout performances by the Maroon and Gold.
 
Redshirt junior Robby Lloyd (Newtown, Pa./Council Rock North) captured his first career PSAC medal with bronze in the 5000m. Lloyd came on strong in the second half of the race, moving up from seventh to third before crossing the line in a personal best 15:13.71. His time ranks fourth in program history.
 
Trey Hamlin III (Townsend, Del./Caravel Academy) set a new PR and remained fourth on KU's top 10 list in the long jump by going 7.20m (23-7.5) to finish fifth. Hamlin III eclipsed the NCAA provisional mark with his top jump.
 
KU's distance medley relay team of Willie Wiles (Royersford, Pa./Spring-Ford), Steele Wrigley (Coatesville, Pa./Octorara), Ryan Kenneff (Manheim, Pa./Manheim Central) and Adam Brocato (Reisterstown, Md./Calvert Hall) came within one position of a medal by taking fourth in 10:16.14, the fifth-fastest time in program history.
 
Jake Kelly (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) added a point to Kutztown's team total with his eighth-place finish in the weight throw (16.02m/52-6.75).
 
In preliminary heats on the track, Kutztown qualified six sprinters or hurdlers for Sunday's finals.
 
Michael Fellin (Sheppton, Pa./Marian Catholic), Daron Haggans (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) and Kymanni Johnson (Baltimore, Md./Overlea) advanced in the 60m. Fellin, the defending champion in the event, ran the second fastest time in prelims with a NCAA provisional 6.71. Haggans moved from eighth to fourth on KU's top 10 with a 6.85 to rank fourth and Johnson was sixth in 6.89.
 
Haggans also advanced to the finals in the 200m where he put down the third-best time in prelims. The junior's 21.89 is a NCAA provisional cut and the third-fastest time in school history.
 
James Washburn (Shoreham, N.Y./Shoreham-Wading River) went fourth in 400m prelims with a 49.97 and Jaydon Witman (Hamburg, Pa./Hamburg) is also expected to contend for a medal in the 60m hurdles after turning in the third-fastest prelims time (8.26).
 
Owen Weaver (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker) and Dain Lenz (Earleville, Md./Bohemia Manor) kicked off the heptathlon with the 60m, long jump, shot put and high jump. Weaver currently sits fifth with 2,637 points and Lenz is ninth at 2,455 points, with the 60m hurdles, pole vault and 1000m on deck tomorrow.

The PSAC Indoor Championships wrap up Sunday beginning at 11:30 a.m. The Bears will be represented in the 60m final, 200m final, 400m final, 800m, mile, 3000m, 4x400m relay, high jump, triple jump, shot put and heptathlon.
 

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PSAC INDOOR TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Saturday-Sunday, February 28-March 1 | Bethlehem, Pa. | Rauch Fieldhouse (200m Flat)
 
KUTZTOWN MEN'S RESULTS
 
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28
TEAM: 3rd/12 (25 pts.)
 
60m Prelims (17 competitors)
2. Michael Fellin (Sheppton, Pa./Marian Catholic), 6.71q, NCAA Provisional
4. Daron Haggans (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin), 6.85q, 4th all-time at KU
6. Kymanni Johnson (Baltimore, Md./Overlea), 6.89q
10. Sean Singleton (Reading, Pa./Governor Mifflin), 6.93
 
200m Prelims (17 competitors)
3. Daron Haggans (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin), 21.89q, NCAA Provisional, 3rd all-time at KU
13. Sean Singleton (Reading, Pa./Governor Mifflin), 22.66
 
400m Prelims (18 competitors)
4. James Washburn (Shoreham, N.Y./Shoreham-Wading River), 49.97q
 
5000m (17 competitors)
3. Robby Lloyd (Newtown, Pa./Council Rock North), 15:13.71, 6 pts., 4th all-time at KU
9. Peyton Small (Littlestown, Pa./Littlestown), 15:28.85
 
60m Hurdles Prelims (17 competitors)
3. Jaydon Witman (Hamburg, Pa./Hamburg), 8.26q
 
Distance Medley Relay (11 teams)
4. Kutztown 'A' (W. Wiles, S. Wrigley, R. Kenneff, A. Brocato), 10:16.14, 5 pts., 5th all-time at KU
 
Pole Vault (18 competitors)
1. Andrew Szeplaki (Bath, Pa./Northampton), 5.20m (17-0.75), 10 pts., NCAA Provisional, Meet Record
T-12. Henry Cifaloglio (Vineland, N.J./Delsea Regional), 4.38m (14-4.5)
T-12. Caleb Tryninewski (Hollidaysburg, Pa./Hollidaysburg), 4.38m (14-4.5)
 
Long Jump (18 competitors)
5. Trey Hamlin III (Townsend, Del./Caravel Academy), 7.20m (23-7.5), 4 pts., NCAA Provisional, 4th all-time at KU
 
Weight Throw (18 competitors)
8. Jake Kelly (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan), 16.02m (52-6.75), 1 pt.
 
Heptathlon (11 competitors)
5. Owen Weaver (Baldwinsville, N.Y./C.W. Baker), 2,637 points
    3. 60m, 7.18, 819 pts.
    4. Long Jump, 6.49m (21-3.5), 695 pts.
    6. Shot Put, 11.13m (36-6.25), 554 pts.
    T-8. High Jump, 1.73m (5-8), 569 pts.
 
9. Dain Lenz (Earleville, Md./Bohemia Manor), 2,455 points
    11. 60m, 7.64, 668 pts.
    6. Long Jump, 6.36m (20-10.5), 666 pts.
    7. Shot Put, 11.10m (36-5), 552 pts.
    T-8. High Jump, 1.73m (5-8), 569 pts.