SELINSGROVE, PA - The Susquehanna University men's indoor track & field team successfully defended their Landmark Conference title Saturday, totaling 191.33 points backed by key wins and finishes on the track to win their fifth consecutive Landmark title and sixth overall. The River Hawks entered Saturday's title chase tied for first with Moravian in the Landmark Pre-Championship Poll and needed some big performances in events where they and the Greyhounds would potentially finish one-two. In all Susquehanna won six events, five on the track and one in the field, to help give them the edge and finish just over 18 points ahead of Moravian, who had 173 points. 

The Landmark major awards also put Susquehanna in a positive light, as sprinter/hurdler Calder El Bachir Diakite's two-win day earned awarded him the Landmark Track Athlete of the Year, while head coach Ethan Senecal and staff were given the Men's Coaching Staff of the Year. 

TODAY'S BIG WINNERS

• Derick Blair, 5000 Meters - Opened the River Hawks' day on the track with a thrilling finish to help set the tone. In a tight battle with six Moravian runners who also earned podium finishes, Blair needed to put the afterburners on to keep Greyhounds runner Cole Stanchina in the rearview, which he did by .45 seconds to take gold in the 5K with a time of 15:10.24. Carter Smink placed second with an 8.30 time, while Rowan Smith and Nikolai Lulewich also took to the podium, with Smith going 8.63 for fifth and Lulewich sixth at 8.66. Blair returned in the evening in the 3,000 meters, finishing fifth at 8:49.64. 
• Calder Diakite, 60 Hurdles & 200 Meters - The eventual Landmark Track Athlete of the Year did not disappoint, virtually finishing first every time he stepped on the track. He earned the 60-meter hurdles' fastest preliminary time at 8.22, then parlayed that to a new Landmark Conference and championship meet record with a time of 8.10, currently 11th fastest in NCAA Division III this winter. Towards the end of the day he took part in the 200 meters, winning once again with a time of 22.53, while teammates Mason Winslow finished second at 22.58 for second and Dominic Santos earning third at 22.60 for 24 key points in the team scoring. 
• Men's 4x200 - Susquehanna captured another hard-fought win as the group of Santos, Henry Notarfrancesco, Nate Frankenfield and Owen Nugent again edged out Moravian with a time of 1:30.99. Thr Greyhounds' foursome placed second at 1:31.44. 
• Seth Taub, Pole Vault - The junior opened the day with a bang for Susquehanna, winning with his top mark of 4.15m (13-07.25). He opened at 3.75m, clearing it on his first try before going up band over 3.90m on his second attempt and then 4.05m on his first try. Fellow pole vaulter Hayden Durst picked up five more points as he placed fourth at 4.05m (13-03.50).
• Mason Winslow, 400 Meters - The junior kept Susquehanna's momentum going with another key win on the track with his 50.16 time in the 400 running the sixth and final heat, again beating out another Moravian runner in Owen Smith, who took silver at 50.74.

MEDAL FINISHERS

• Dominic Santos, 60 Meters - Qualified for the finals with a 7.02 prelim time, then pushed on to take second with a time of 7.03. Nugent finished fifth at 7.13, while Winslow placed sixth at 7.28. 
• Charles Montross, Long Jump - Landed the second-longest mark at 6.57m (21-06.75) on his sixth and final attempt. 
• Austin Hurrell, Long Jump - Earned third at 6.43m (21-.01.25), doing so on his fourth attempt. Rowan Smith finished fifth at 6.30m (20.07.75), followed by Gabe LaGrossa in sixth at 6.29m (20-05.75). 
• Cole Goodwin, Shot Put - The senior thrower finished second in the shot put at 14.79m (48-06.25), reaching it on his second attempt. He also captured fourth in the weight throw at 14.93m (48-11.75) on his third attempt. 

UP NEXT FOR THE RIVER HAWKS

• The five-time defending Landmark Conference Champions keep their indoor season going this postseason with next weekend's AARTFC Championships, hosted by the New York City Armory.
• The team will use this meet to polish any and all marks in hopes of landing some River Hawks at the NCAA Division III National Championships in Birmingham, Ala.