University of Massachusets Athletics
Outdoor Season Commences At Sam Howell Invite
March 30, 2011 | Men's Track & Field
| Sam Howell Invitational | |
| Date |
Friday, April 1 at 4:00 p.m. (EST) Saturday, April 2 at 11:30 a.m. (EST) |
| Location | Princeton, N.J. | Weaver Stadium |
| Host | Princeton University Tigers |
| Live Results | Friday | Saturday |
| Individual Personal Records | List |
| Social Media |    |
| Friday's Events |
3000 Meter Steeplechase, 1500 Meter Run (P), 5000 Meter Run, 10,000 Meter Run |
| Saturday's Events | 4x100 Meter Relay, 1500 Meter Run (F), 110 Meter Hurdles, 400 Meter Dash, 100 Meter Dash, 800 Meter Run, 400 Meter Hurdles, 200 Meter Dash, 4x400 Meter Relay, Hammer Throw, Shot Put, High Jump, Long Jump, Triple Jump, Javelin, Pole Vault, Discus Throw |
March 30, 2011
PRINCETON, N.J. - Following a string of stellar performances from the indoor track and field season, the UMass men's track and field squad kicks off the outdoor campaign this Friday and Saturday at the Sam Howell Invitational. The Princeton University hosted meet marks the beginning of a seven meet outdoor season going through the IC4A Championships. Friday's start time is slated for 4 pm and Saturday is set for 10 am. This will be the first of three trips to Weaver Stadium for the Minutemen in 2011.
First Ever Televised Home Track Meet
The UMass Media Relations office is proud to continue the inaugural year of partnering with CBS 3 Now for live UMass Athletic home games/matches on television. Throughout the 2010-11 year, a variety of UMass' 21 varsity sports have been seen live on television due to this new agreement between the two entities.
Continuing with the productions of home events, the UMass track and field program will have its first ever home meet produced on tape delay on broadcasted on television. Due to internet issues by the UMass Track and Field Complex, a live production is not possible; however, the UMass Invitational on April 9th will be taped and broadcasted, and then shown on CBS 3 Now later in the week (a date and time TBA) on tape delay. Fans can view the tape delayed production on Comcast Digital Cable channel 293, Charter Cable channel 230, and on UMass Campus Cable channel 79.
A Trifecta Of Home Cookin'
This outdoor track and field season provides three opportunities out of seven meets, which will be hosted at home in Amherst. The Minutemen have fared quite well on the UMass nine lane facility, posting a second and fourth place finish at last year's UMass Invitational and A-10 Championships respectively.
On April 4th the UMass Invitational kicks off the trifecta of home meets at 11:30 am. Just seven days later, the Minuteman Invitational commences at the same time on April 16th. The final of the three Amherst meets comes on April 30th with the UMass Pre-Conference Meet.
Stellar Indoor Season Carries Momentum
Ken O'Brien and his coaching staff are hoping for no lapse of strong performances, pushing forward from the indoor track and field season. In 2011, the Minutemen added four A-10 Champions, two individual New England Crowns, and one school record breaking performance. Additionally, in six team scored meets, UMass placed in the top ten as a squad five times including a second, third, and fourth place finish.
UMass Athlete of the Week awards were also superfluous in quantity for the Minutemen this winter season. Seven times a men's track and field athlete took home the award, including Tyler Cotto and Sean Busch three times each. The Minutemen will look to continue the streak during the spring outdoor track and field campaign.
Seniors Lead The Way
With 18 seniors on the UMass squad there certainly is no lack of leadership for the outdoor season. Head coach Ken O'Brien announced a septet of track captains earlier this year with a leader for each respective set of events, six of whom are seniors. Included in the sextet of seniors are Kevin Spieler (throws), Daniel Schwartz (multis), Scott VanderMolen (mid-distance), Tyler Cotto (hurdles), Daniel Barry (distance), and Brian Tino (mid-distance).
The 2011 class boasts one All-American (Kevin Johnson), one outdoor A-10 Title holder (Sean Busch), and four current UMass top five mark holders (Sean Busch, Tyler Cotto, Daniel Schwartz, and Kevin Spieler).
Jumping To New Heights And Distances
The jumping portion of the men's track and field team has been one of the strongest points for coach O'Brien's over the past few seasons. This year's core leaders in the jumps include Zachary Koncki, Daniel Wu, and Sean Busch.
Juniors Koncki and Wu lead the way, fresh off a strong indoor season. Koncki won his first career New England and A-10 indoor long jump titles this winter. He currently ranks third best in UMass history in the indoor long jump with a mark of 23-6.25. Wu ranks tied for fifth best in UMass history in the outdoor long jump with a mark of 23-5.50 set at last year's A-10 Championships, and was also named to the Academic All-Conference team this indoor season.
Busch is expected to continue his trek of bringing the team to new heights, literally. Busch was re-crowned an A-10 Champion in the pole vault this indoor season, as he also set the school record in the indoor event. He will look to defend his outdoor pole vault A-10 Championship Crown this spring as he won the title last year with a career best mark of 15-9, also the second best mark in school history.
Revamped Relay Squads
Propelling forward from last spring, the relay teams for UMass have been another strong point for the Minutemen. During the winter, the distance medley relay squad comprised of Daniel Barry, Joe Doyle, Evan Donadt, and Sean Duncan, combined to bring home an A-10 Title in the event with an A-10 Championship historical best time of 10:00.99. Additionally the 4x800 meter relay team consisting of Tom Mullen, Barry, Doyle, and Scott VanderMolen combined to set the fourth best mark in indoor school history in the event, with a team time of 7:37.74.
Dating back to the 2010 outdoor season, six relay teams stole top five spots at their respective meets over the course of the spring campaign. Returning from the New England Champion 4x800 meter relay squad are VanderMolen, Barry, and Doyle who worked towards a team time of 7:34.39. The trio of Philip Weltman, Zachary Koncki, and Connor Megee also return from the third place finishing 4x100 meter relay squad at the UMass Nine-Way Meet (4/10/2010).
In the 4x400 meter relay event, Paul Grafov, Nick Otis, Daniel Schwartz, Chris Dzidek, and Michael McDonough all return to lead the path towards success. In 2010, Grafov, Otis, and Schwartz were part of a fourth place finishing team in the event at the UMass Nine-Way Meet, with a time of 3:25.08. Dzidek and McDonough were part of a fifth place finishing quad that placed fifth at the UMass Nine-Way Meet in 3:26.52.
Fresh Recruiting Class
The 2014 recruiting class carries the largest number of competitors in any class for the Minutemen. Four sprinters, five distance harriers, two mid-distance competitors, four jumpers, three throwers, and two hurdlers combine to produce a diverse group of student-athletes for the Minutemen.
Freshman standouts during the indoor season included Quinn Ryder (50 and 60 meter dashes), Ted and Chris Greene (200, 400, 500 meter dashes), Tom Mullen (800 meter run, relay events), Patrick McGowan (1000 and 300 meter runs, mile run), Aaron Araujo (relay events), and Zack Hildenbrandt (relay events, 500 meter dash).
Diversity At The Helm
Entering year number 43 as the head coach of the men's track and field team, Ken O'Brien will look to add a 20th A-10 Title (19 previously between the Yankee and A-10 Conferences) to his trophy shelf. Joining the veteran leader will be David Jackson and Darcy Wilson, both in their second seasons as assistant coaches, along with first year volunteer assistants, Jose Genao and Elaina Zizza.
Since bringing in Jackson and Wilson last year, the track program has been on a surge with the addition of seven A-10 Champions, four New England Champions, and a school record breaking performance in the indoor pole vault for Sean Busch. Jackson will continue his work with the jumpers and multis as Wilson will mainly focus on the throwers.
Genao comes to join the UMass staff as a graduate student working towards his masters in Sport Management. As a four year track athlete for the University of Notre Dame, Genao was a stand-out in the sprints events. Some highlights of the New York native's career include qualifying for the Big East Conference Indoor T&F Championships as a freshman, junior, and senior. As an outdoor competitor Genao's outstanding performances allowed him to qualify for the Big East Championships as a freshman and senior. While coaching at the high school level, Genao lead the team's senior hurler to the 2nd fastest times in school history in the 55m, 110m, and 400m hurdles. Genao also helped the same athlete to win a league title in the 55m hurdles and a county title in the 400m hurdles.
Rounding out the quad of coaches is student volunteer assistant Elaina Zizza. Competing as a Minutewoman from 2007-2009, Zizza was a multi-event indoor and outdoor track & field athlete. During her sophomore campaign, Zizza ran in the 100 meter hurdles, 800 meter run, 60 meter hurdles, long jump, and competed in the heptathlon between the indoor and outdoor seasons. She is currently Level 1 certified as a USA Track and Field Coach.
