By: by Mark Toma
A-Sun Men's Track & Field Championships I
Live Results
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – This weekend will be memorable for track and field head coach Dr. Don McGarey as it will be his last full meet as the head coach of the Owls. It could also be one of the most memorable for another reason, as his men’s team will look to complete a triple crown after winning the cross country and indoor titles already this season.
The Owls have quickly risen to the top of the A-Sun track and field world and this year there has been no stopping the Black and Gold, and McGarey sees no reason why the Owls success shouldn’t continue through this weekend.
"We all know what this weekend means to us," said Coach McGarey, referring to the Owls chance of a perfect year, winning the cross country, indoor and outdoor championships. "The men have great focus and intensity and our training has been going well."
Kennesaw State, who won the outdoor title by a point over ETSU after a thrilling, photo-finish victory in the 4x400 Relay to close out the weekend, performs better during the outdoor season so there is a confidence level different than that of late winter. The Owls have the conference's best performances in eight events heading into the championships, including the best times in the 4x100 and 4x400 relays.
"This is a no holds barred weekend for us," added McGarey. "We are here to win a championship and we will not compete reserved. There is a year-round commitment from our athletes and winning the conference championship is one of our primary goals."
Jerome KcKinzie is the favorite headed into the high jump. He has the best jump of the year at 6' 11.75", five inches better than Adam Austin of Lipscomb who has the second best jump of the year in the conference. He made Owls history in the winter, when his 7'2.5" clearing jump in Gainesville, Fla. earned him a trip to the NCAA Indoor Championships, the first time a KSU track and field athlete qualified for an NCAA Division I national championship.
Reigning Atlantic Sun Conference Field Performer of the Year, Joshua McNair, will again be battling Belmont's Joe Frye in the throws. McNair has the year's best throw in the shot put among A-Sun athletes, but trails Frye in the discus and hammer throws.
The Owls quest for the Triple Crown begins on Friday morning with the championships concluding on Saturday evening at the UNF Track Stadium. Live scoring will be available throughout the weekend.
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| Coach McGarey previews the men's championship |
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How The Owls Stack Up
Kennesaw State versus Top A-Sun Finishers
200m
1. Monal, Duronal, ETSU 20.75
2. Smith, Adika, Kennesaw State 21.65
400m
1. Tansey, David, Kennesaw State 48.74 HT
2. Verdi, James, Kennesaw State 49.04
3. Meissner, Mike, USC Upstate 49.14
800m
1. Catalano, Gianni, Kennesaw State 1:50.73
2. Grass, Daniel, Kennesaw State 1:51.73
3. Post, James, North Florida 1:51.86
1500m
1. Chastain, Ryan, Lipscomb 3:48.84
4. Witczak, Piotr, Kennesaw State 3:55.91
3000m
1. Hamid, Nabil, Kennesaw State 8:31.37
2. Haskins, Nathan, Kennesaw State 8:32.13
3. Esteban, Johnathan, North Florida 8:36.17
5000m
1. Rotich, Kenneth, ETSU 14:33.05
3. Nieminen, Jaakko, Kennesaw State 14:49.79
10000m
1. Anderson, Jordan, Belmont 30:31.40
2. Hamid, Nabil, Kennesaw State 30:41.73
110m Hurdles
1. Jones, Adoniss, Campbell 14.11
2. Parks, Kendall, Kennesaw State 14.13
400m Hurdles
1. Sims, Harold, Campbell 51.70
2. James, Joshua, Kennesaw State 52.99
3000m Steeplechase
1. Ronoh, Benjamin, ETSU 9:35.92
2. Burrus , Ryan, Kennesaw State 9:40.37
4x100 m Relay
1. Kennesaw State, 40.68
2. Campbell, 41.11
4x400m Relay
1. Kennesaw State, 3:13.27
2. North Florida, 3:18.83
High Jump
1. McKinzie, Jerome, Kennesaw State 6' 11.75" 2.13m
2. Austin, Adam, Lipscomb 6' 6.75" 2.00m
Pole Vault
1. Bridges, Jake, Kennesaw State 15' 7" 4.75m
2. Crawford, Justin, USC Upstate 15' 3" 4.65m
Long Jump
1. Lawerence, Diego, Campbell 24' 7.25" 7.50m
7. Bridges, Jake, Kennesaw State 21' 11" 6.68m
Triple Jump
1. Beaver, Ryan, ETSU 47' 2.5" 14.39m
7. Riberdy, Tyler, Kennesaw State 44' 6.25" 13.57m
Shot Put
1. McNair, Joshua, Kennesaw State 55' 8.5" 16.98m
2. Burton, Jarrod, ETSU 53' 1.5" 16.19m
Discuss Throw
1. Frye, Joe, Belmont 161' 8" 49.28m
3. McNair, Joshua, Kennesaw State 156' 2" 47.60m
Hammer Throw
1. Frye, Joe, Belmont 185' 4" 56.48m
2. McNair, Joshua, Kennesaw State 179' 2" 54.60m
Javelin
1. Baum, Matt , ETSU 190' 10" 58.17m
7. Lenane, Blake, Kennesaw State 155' 11" 47.52m
