Finucane, Swim Teams Shine in Wintertime

At the Pennsylvania State Indoor Track & Field Championships March 1 at Penn State University, James Finucane ’08 placed fifth in the mile in a time of 4:20.58, earning him a state championships medal.

The time was a lifetime best in the mile for Finucane and the second fastest ever run by a Mercersburg athlete (indoor or outdoor) in the more than 100-year history of the school’s track and field program.  This was also the highest state-championship finish for a Mercersburg winter track and field athlete.

James’ sister, Lena Finucane ’09 (a first-time qualifier for the meet), placed 13th in the mile (5:22.92).

The men’s swimming team captured the inaugural Mid-Atlantic Prep League championship February 9. Individual MAPL champions include Marshall Daniels ’08 in the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard butterfly, Nick Thomson ’10 in the 100 free, and the 400 free relay team of Thomson, Daniels, Pat Holmes ’08, and Mike Weinstein ’09.

The women’s team’s top finishers included two individual MAPL champions—Kiersten Bell ’09 in the 500 free and Nikki Hyrkas ’11 in the 200-yard individual medley.

At the Eastern Intercollegiate Swimming Championships at LaSalle University February 22–23, the 200 IM relay team of Thomson, Holmes, Tom McCarthy ’08, and Nikolai Paloni ’10 finished second.