Kyle Burke’s senior season at Lehigh University led to the Abington Heights graduate being recognized as the Most Valuable Player of the men’s track and field team.
Submitted photo
Kyle Burke’s senior season at Lehigh University led to the Abington Heights graduate being recognized as the Most Valuable Player of the men’s track and field team.
Burke won seven school records, three Patriot League titles and one IC4A title along with claiming several academic awards.
The highly successful career as a distance runner across three seasons – cross country, indoor track and field and outdoor track and field – came to an end Memorial Day Weekend when he finished 21st overall in the 800-meter run at the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I East Prelims in Bloomington, Ind.
Burke made it through the first round of the East Prelim, which accounted for half of the competitors in the national outdoor championship field, finishing second in his heat and 15th overall in 1:49.31 to make the quarterfinals. In the quarterfinals, he ran a 1:49.96 and had his season end there.
“I am so proud of Kyle Burke,” Lehigh head coach Matt Utesch said, according to a story on the school’s athletic website. “He had an amazing career with us and we are better for getting to spend these four years with him. He has elevated expectations in our program and demonstrates to all Lehigh athletes where hard work and dedication can take you.
“I know he didn’t finish the season the way he wanted to, but history will recall him as one of the greatest runners in program history.”
Burke won the 800 meters with his fourth school record of the year and was part of the winning distance medley relay team at the Patriot League Indoor Championships.
During the outdoor season, Burke broke school records at 800 (1:48.45) and 1500 meters (3:44.57) and was part of a school record time of 7:26.80 in the 3200 relay. He won his second Patriot League Outdoor title in the 800 with a time of 1:52.59.
“I think it’s great that we can honor Kyle as an MVP,” men’s cross country coach assistant track and field coach Todd Etters said. “His performances this year were certainly Hall of Fame worthy.
“I think what stood out about Kyle is that he had the same consistent approach about running that he’s had since he was a first year, so it was nice that he was able to put up such high-level performances because of that.”
Burke’s wins included his record-setting 800 time at the Virginia Challenge.
A two-time Patriot League Men’s Track Athlete of the Week, Burke received league, district and national All-Academic honors from various organizations.
Other Abingtons athletes competing on the NCAA Division I level in the spring included:
MEN’S TRACK AND FIELD
Robert Feeney, a Scranton Prep graduate from Waverly, joined Burke in receiving Academic All-Patriot League honors in the outdoor season.
The junior thrower at Bucknell University finished sixth in the Patriot League with 183-8 and fifth in the IC4A Championships with 184-0 in the hammer throw. His career-best of 185-4 in the event ranks eighth-best in Bucknell history.
WOMEN’S TRACK AND FIELD
Georgetown University’s Katie Dammer finished fifth in the 3000-meter steeplechase with a personal-best time of 10:19.20 at the Big East Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
Dammer helped the Hoyas finish third of nine in the team standings.
During the indoor season, the senior from Abington Heights won the 1500-meter run at the Mason Spring Invitational, set a personal record of 9:40.34 in the 3000 and was part of the fourth-place distance medley relay team at the Big East Championships.
Calista Marzolino, a junior from Abington Heights, finished second in the high jump at the Patriot League Outdoor Championships.
Marzolino, a Patriot League Academic Honor Roll member, cleared 1.68 meters (5-6 1/8).
The University of New Hampshire’s Danielle Heine, a junior from Abington Heights, finished third in the pole vault at the America East Conference Championships with a height of 11-7 ¾.
BASEBALL
Colin McCreary played in 44 games, making 42 starts, as a graduate student outfielder at Monmouth University in New Jersey.
McCreary batted .186 with five doubles, a home run, four stolen bases, 15 runs and 14 RBI.
Monmouth went 24-27.
Nate Rolka, a junior right-hander from Lackawanna Trail, is a right-handed relief pitcher at the University of Delaware.
Rolka appeared in 12 games for Delaware (25-26), going 1-1 with a 3.18 earned run average. He gave up nine hits and seven walks while striking out 16 in 11 1/3 innings.
