Sprints, relays fuel MIAC title for Men's Track & Field

1st of 11
at MIAC Championships (M), May 09, 2009

Senior James Ewer had a hand in three firsts and 36 points to lead the St. Thomas men to their 23rd MIAC outdoor track and field team title in 27 seasons. The two-day meet concluded Saturday in Northfield.

The Tommies started the day in third place, 25 points out of first. But St. Thomas scored 85 points in the 100- through 1,500-meter races on the track to take control, led by 1-2-3 finishes in both the 100 and 200 dashes.

UST scored 182 points. St. John's (125), Hamline (113) and Bethel (102.5) took second through fourth in the 11-team competition.

St. Thomas has now won 99 all-time MIAC team titles for men and women in indoor and outdoor track and field. The Tommies won nine regular-season conference crowns this school year and swept the MIAC all-sport title for 10 points for women and 12.5 points for the men.

Ewer won Friday's long jump in 23-4 and came back Saturday to take first in the 100 (10.84), third in the 200 (22.00) and run on the winning 4x400, which broke a meet record in 3:13.02. Phil Bastron, Joe DeFrance and Pat Jager joined Ewer, and that foursome improved UST's provo time and ranks seventh-best on the school all-time list. that time also ranks first in Division III this year and missed an NCAA automtic by just .02 of a second.

Sophomore Matt Griswold won the 400-meter hurdles in 52.86 -- a career best. That time that ties for No. 3 in St. Thomas history and improves his NCAA provisional qualifying best. He now ranks fifth in Division III this spring. Griswold also placed fourth in the 110 hurdles (15.04).

DeFrance won the 200 (21.90) and placed second in the 100 (10.94). UST also won the 4x100 relay in 42.10 with Chris Bradford, Sam Moen, Bastron and Joe Rohlfing. Jager also took second in the 400 (48.26).

Brian Sames won the 800 meters in 1:52.86 as he completed a rare four-year sweep of the outdoor 800. Fellow seniors Kyle Brandon (3:58.89) and Matt Boumeester went 2-3 in the 1,500.

Click here for final results:

http://apps.carleton.edu/athletics/varsity_sports/womens_track_and_field/schedule_and_results/?event_id=487350

Friday story

Sophomore Andrew Brueggen won the hammer throw and senior James Ewer won the long jump to lead the Tommie men in day one of the MIAC Track and Field Championships in Northfield.

With seven of 22 events completed, the Tommies have 42 points and trail leader St. John's (67) and runner-up Hamline (44) going into the final day. UST will try to catch the Johnnies and Pipers in the 100 through 1,500 meters plus both hurdles races. The Toms qualified 16 individuals in those races to six for Hamline and five for the Johnnies.

The Tommie women trail leader Gustavus by 40 points going into Saturday, with seven of 22 events completed. UST won the 4x800 relay and got a victory in the high jump from Alyssa Salamone. UST also got a second in the shot put from Jenna Lewis and a third in the javelin from Kyley Crotty.

UST will try to catch the Gusties in the 100 through 1,500 meters plus both hurdles races. The Toms qualified 16 individuals in those races to nine for Gustavus. UST is also qualiied with the best time in the 4x100 and 4x400, while Gustavus missed in the 4x100. The Gusties have more solid field events to go, and it should be a close race for the team crown.

Men's Friday results:

http://www.raceberryjam.com/results/miacmenod09.html

Women's Friday results:

http://www.raceberryjam.com/results/miacwomenod09.html

 

Click here to view more Greg Smith action photos:

www.gsmithsports.com

 

Joe Rohlfing races to first place in the 4x100 relay. (Greg Smith Photo)

 

Andrew Brueggen won the hammer throw on Friday afternoon. (Greg Smith Photo)

 

James Ewer helped the Tommies 4x400 relay team break a meet record. (Greg Smith)

 

Joe Rohlfing competes in the high jump on Friday. (Greg Smith Photo)

 

Mark Geskermann jumps over a hurdle at the MIAC Championships. (Greg Smith Photo)

 

Mike Hutton races in the 800 on Saturday afternoon. (Greg Smith Photo)

 

Kyle Brandon (right) and Matt Boumeester (left) finished 2-3 in the 1500.

 

Anthony Kelly prepares to vault on Friday afternoon. (Greg Smith Photo)

 

Chris Victor competes in pole vaulting at the MIAC Championships. (Greg Smith Photo)

 

Pat Jager and the 4x400 team posted a meet record of 3:13.02. (Greg Smith Photo)

 

Joe DeFrance receives the baton from James Ewer in the 4x400 relay. (Greg Smith Photo)

 

Tyler Iverson runs in the steeplechase on Saturday. (Greg Smith Photo)

 

The Tommie track team poses after winning its 23rd MIAC outdoor team title in 27 seasons. (Greg Smith Photo)

 

The Tommie men's track team holds up the MIAC Championship trophy. (Greg Smith Photo)

 

Track captains Brian Sames, James Ewer, Joe DeFrance, and Matt Boumeester pose with the MIAC outdoor championship trophy. (Greg Smith Photo)

 

Joe Rohlfing receives the handoff in the 4x100 relay. (Greg Smith Photo)

 

Matt Griswold won the 400-meter hurdles with a career best time of 52.86.  (Greg Smith Photo)

 

James Ewer, Joe DeFrance, and Sam Moen finished 1-2-3 in the 100 meter dash. (Greg Smith Photo)