Miami University
Miami Invitational
Miami Men Edge Out Win at Miami Invitational
4/10/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track and Field
April 9, 2011
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OXFORD, Ohio - Despite a lengthy weather delay and running in the dark, the Miami University men's track and field team overcame several distractions to win the Miami Invitational Saturday at George Rider Track by a single point. Over 900 athletes from 46 teams (men and women) participated in the meet, the largest field ever at the Miami Invitational, which was the first of two home meets for the RedHawks.
After two sections of the 5000m run were completed to start the meet in the morning, rain started to fall and lightning was spotted in the area, forcing a nearly four-hour delay. The meet resumed in the afternoon and finished in darkness as the final two events (the women's 3K and section II of the men's 5K) were run after the sun had set because of the delay.
The 'Hawks totaled 116 points to beat out Mid-American Conference rival Kent State, who recorded 115 points. Ashland was third with 98 points while Findlay was fourth (74) and Cincinnati claimed fifth (71).
Miami dominated the long jump, capturing places two through six. Senior Josh Rees (Marysville, Ohio) was the runner-up with a personal-best leap of 7.13m/23-4.75 while classmate Michael McCarty (Hudson, Ohio) was third with a distance of 7.06/23-2. Sophomore John Cantwell (Holland, Pa.) finished fourth jumping a personal-best 6.95m/22-9.75, classmate Reggie Mitchell (Cincinnati, Ohio) was fifth (6.93m/22-9) and freshman Sam Spallinger (Pandora, Ohio) placed sixth (6.91m/22-8).
Cantwell also won the triple jump, Miami's lone individual victory on the day, with a jump of 13.79m/45-3, recording first in the event for the second straight week. Freshman Jahquil Hargrove (Norristown, Pa.) finished fifth with a mark of 13.20m/43-3.75 while Rees was sixth (13.08m/42-11). Hargrove was the runner-up in the 400m dash as well in a personal-best 48.20, as he was edged out by Ashland's Cory Lamar (47.83).
Junior Matt Rudin (Middleburg Heights, Ohio) finished second in the javelin with a heave of 54.98m/180-4. Rudin also claimed third in the pole vault with a vault of 4.85m/15-11, which was also the winning height, however Rudin lost the jump-off.
The RedHawks placed three runners in the top six in the 800m run as sophomore Jarrod Eick (Hartville, Ohio) crossed in third in 1:53.17 while freshman Wade Coffin (Willoughby, Ohio) was fifth in a personal-best 1:53.79 and sophomore Jack Spilman (Chagrin Falls, Ohio) sixth in 1:54.06. Eick also finished third in the 1500m run in a personal-best 3:48.56, which ranks eighth in school history.
In the 5000m run, which was the meet's final event and run in darkness due to the weather delay, senior Robbie Fisher (Grosse Pointe, Mich.) earned fourth in 14:52 while sophomore Matt Marol (Evanston, Ill.) was right behind in fifth in 14:54.
Senior David Serrano (Pickerington, Ohio) and freshman Matt Gambill (Dover, N.H.) both cleared 1.93m/6-4 in the high jump, a personal best for Gambill, as Serrano finished sixth and Gambill seventh (via a jump-off). Junior Nathan Hoch (Logan, Ohio) was eighth in the discus with a throw of 47.47m/155-9.
Senior Justinn Eddie (Cleveland, Ohio) posted a pair of fifth-place finishes as he clocked 11.12 in the 100m dash and 22.07 in the 200m dash. Junior Jordan Goffena (Sidney, Ohio) placed fourth in the 110m hurdles in a personal-best 14.80. Miami also took fifth in the 4x100m relay, as Mitchell, McCarty, Spallinger and Eddie finished in 42.41. The 4x400m relay was not run due to darkness.
The RedHawks return to action next weekend as they compete in the All-Ohio Championships in Cincinnati, Ohio April 15-16.
--MURedHawks.com--
Players Mentioned
