University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
IC4A Championships
Busch Breaks School Pole Vault Record
March 05, 2011 | Men's Track & Field
March 5, 2011
BOSTON, Mass. - The first school record breaking performance of the season for UMass hit the books on Saturday at the IC4A Championships. The UMass men's track and field squad was led by the outstanding performance of Sean Busch, as the Minutemen tallied 2.50 points, which currently puts the team in 20th place in a field of 23 teams.
He has tied the school record twice this season, and finally broke through it on Saturday. Busch reached a UMass historical best height of 16-0.75, placing sixth in the pole vault at the highly competitive meet. This performance from the Stow, Mass. native comes just days after being named the Atlantic 10 Student-Athlete of the Year among all conference track and field squads.
Another final that took place on day one was the long jump as Zachary Koncki led the way for the Minutemen with a 20th place finish. The junior jumper reached a distance of 21-8.25, as he already has a New England and A-10 Crown this season in the event.
Notable finishers in the preliminaries of various events was Paul Grafov in the 500 meter dash, Joe Doyle in the 800 meter run, Scott VanderMolen in the 1000 meter run, Daniel Barry in the mile run, and a 4x800 meter relay quad.
Grafov took 22nd with a time of 1:04.86, as he was followed in the 800 meter run by Doyle who placed 23rd with a team best season time of 1:52.66. Doyle improved upon his current fifth best all-time UMass time in the event, previously set at 1:52.91. The seniors, VanderMolen and Barry placed 14th and 11th in their respective events, crossing the lines at 2:27.15 and 4:08.82. Both times were the best team season times by any competitor in their respective events, and Barry's ranks as the fourth best in UMass history.
The highly touted 4x800 squad finished 10th with a team time of 7:37.74 and will compete in the finals of the event on Sunday. The four man unit for the Minutemen ties the fourth best mark in UMass history in the event on Saturday.
Ken O'Brien's squad returns to action on Sunday for the conclusion of the IC4A Championships before returning home to Amherst.
