University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
UMass Pre-Conference Meet
Rack `Em Up, Men's Track Blows Away Competition
April 30, 2011 | Men's Track & Field
April 30, 2011
Results |
Photo Gallery 
AMHERST, Mass. - The day started out a bit brisk, but the performances quickly got hot for the men's track and field in the squad's final home meet of the 2011 campaign. On a day in which all the seniors were honored prior to the meet, the team tallied 20 top five finishes including eight first place finishes. UMass was able to amass a total of 195.5 points, beating out five other squads. The closest finisher to the Minutemen was Dartmouth with 153 points.
Propelling his way upward in the UMass record books once again was senior Tyler Cotto in the 110 IMH. The Holliston, Mass. native set the second best time in school history in the event by crossing the line at 14.38; Cotto is already IC4A Championships qualified. Another UMass top five record was set as Sean Duncan (Gardner, Mass.) set a personal record, by improving upon his previous career best by almost ten full seconds in the 3000 meter steeplechase. The senior clocked in at 8:55.12 as the lone harrier in the event, good enough for first place and the fourth best mark ever in UMass history. Duncan is now IC4A Championship qualified in the event.
The only Minuteman to take home two first place and one third place finish on Saturday was the stellar Daniel Wu (Tenafly, N.J). The junior Finance major jumped 22-10.50 in the long jump and 44-4.75 in the triple jump, both marks good enough for first place finishes. Wu also took home a third place spot in the high jump by reaching a height of 6-2.25. Other standout performances from the jumping squad came from Sean Busch (Stow, Mass.) in the pole vault (15-3: second place), and Zachary Koncki (Northampton, Mass.) in the long jump (22-0.75: third place).
The freshman phenoms were at it again for Coach O'Brien. Quinn Ryder (North Easton, Mass.) started the day off with a second place finish in the 100 meter dash with a time of 11.00. He followed his 100 meter performance with a sixth place finish in the 200 meter dash in 22.95. Ted Greene (Norwell, Mass.) also ran the 200, finishing with the same exact time as Ryder. Tom Mullen (Bridgewater, Mass.) and Aaron Araujo (New Bedford, Mass.) were two first years who again took home the top spots in the 800 meter run and 400 meter hurdles respectively. The duo set times of 1:54.93 and 53.74 respectively. Araujo's was also good enough to qualify for the IC4A Championships. This is the second straight home meet in which both Mullen and Araujo have taken first place in the 800 run and 400 IMH respectively.
Rounding out the freshman performances at the UMass Pre-Conference Meet were Patrick McGowan (Mansfield, Mass.) and Jared Reddy (Methuen, Mass.) in the two mile run. The first years crossed the line at 9:21.97 and 9:32.97 respectively, good enough for second and third place.
Following Mullen and Araujo in the 800 and 400 IMH were Scott VanderMolen (Tully, N.Y.) and Evan Donadt (Northborough, Mass.) respectively. VanderMolen, the senior, crossed the line at 1:54.98 in the 800 meter run (second place), while Donadt took home third in 54.64 in the 400 hurdles.
Concluding the standout performances of the day were Paul Grafov (North Dartmouth, Mass.) in the 400 meter dash and Daniel Barry (Sheffield, Mass.) in the 1500 meter run. Both took home the top spots in their events, as the former finished in 49.14 and the latter in 13:53.28. Grafov's time was also a new personal record.
The Mintuemen hit the track once again next weekend for the heavily anticipated Atlantic 10 Championships in Charlotte, N.C. Friday's and Saturday's action is set to commence at 9 am.
