University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Atlantic 10 Championships
Minutemen Claim Fourth At A-10 Championships
May 08, 2011 | Men's Track & Field
May 8, 2011
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Tallying a total of 89 points over a two day span at Charlotte, the UMass men's track and field team claimed the fourth spot in a field of 11 conference teams at the 2011 outdoor A-10 Championships. Ken O'Brien's squad added one UMass top five all-time mark on the latter day of the two day event, in the form of Scott VanderMolen. Rhode Island came away with the A-10 team Title with 179 points.
On day two, senior Scott VanderMolen (Tully, N.Y.) clocked in at 1:51.66 in the 800 meter run, good enough for the fifth best time in school history, and fifth place in the event. VanderMolen is already in the indoor UMass record books in the 1,000 meter run, but this is his first time good enough to hit the outdoor record books, with a new personal record in the event.
Brothers Kevin and David Johnson posted two solid finishes in the 5000 meter run. Kevin led the way in fifth place with a time of 14:45.15, while David followed in seventh in 14:53.92. Kevin Spieler was also a senior who posted a top ten finish, in the shot put. The UMass thrower set a mark of 45-0.25 good enough for sixth overall.
A top three finish was clocked in for the Minutemen in the 400 meter hurdles as sophomore sensation Evan Donadt ran a 53.98 in the event, taking third place and setting a new personal record. Teammate and current freshman Aaron Araujo, ranked fifth behind Donadt with a time of 54.20.
In the decathlon, which took place over the two day span of Saturday and Sunday, Mark Hewitt and Conor Megee were the top point receivers for UMass. The former of the duo placed fifth with 5980 points, while the latter followed in sixth with 5852 total points.
The always strong Tyler Cotto ran the 110 meter hurdles for the Minutemen, placing third in 14.45. Rounding out the solid performances at the A-10 Championships was Zachary Hildenbrandt in the 400 meter dash. The New York native posted a new personal record of 49.34, being the top UMass finisher in 13th place overall.
The Minutemen return to action next weekend for the IC4A Championships, taking place Friday through Sunday at Princeton University.
