Men's Track sweeps 4x100 and 4x400, takes 3rd at NCAAs

3rd of 60
NCAA Meet (M), May 23, 2009

The Tommie men made state history as it swept the 4x100 and 4x400 relays and have wrapped up third place at the NCAA Track and Field Championships in Marietta, Ohio. It was the program's best team finish since 1993.

Coach Steve Mathre's team had eight All-Americans on the day and scored 39 points but fell short of second place one point. UW-Oshkosh clinched the team crown with 46 points, while McMurry (Tex.) clinched second at 40. McMurry won the 2008 crown was 35 points.

St. Thomas' 4x100 meter relay team made Minnesota history as it became the first Minnesota men's track team to win an NCAA relay championship. The Toms cruised to first place in 40.76 with James Ewer, Sam Moen, Joe DeFrance and Pat Jager. Three hours later Matt griswold joined Ewer, DeFrance and Jager to win the 4x400 in 3:10.60, a new school record. The MIAC went 1-2-4-5 in the 4x400 with Bethel taking second.

The only team before today from the Gopher state to win an NCAA track relay was the Tommie women's 4x100 team, 12 years ago. UST's winning time of 40.76 was .01 off the school record set 10 days ago.

The Tommies scored 20 points for the winning relays and added 19 in four individual races. Brian Sames took third in the 800 meters in 1:51.69; Griswold took fourth in the 400 hurdles in a career-best 52.57; Jager placed fifth in the 400 meters in 47.98; and Kyle Brandon placed fifth in the 1,500 meters (3:54.44).

St. Thomas also recorded third-place NCAA teams finishes in 1984, 1985, 1992 and 1993, and fourth in 1986 and 1991. The Tommies placed fifth last year with three top-three individual places.

It was just the second time in 14 seasons that a men's team swept the 4x100 and 4x400 relays at nationals -- UW-LaCrosse did it in 2004.

Click here for updated results:

http://raceberryjam.com/results/ncoutmenevt.html

Friday story

Seniors Brian Sames (800) and Pat Jager (400) advanced to the finals in Friday's prelim round at the NCAA Division III Track and Field Championships in Marietta, Ohio.

Sames won his heat in a time of 1:51.63. Freshman Mike Hutton ran 1:53.06 but was unable to advance. 

Jager ran 48.02 to make the finals in the 400.

James Ewer ran 10.98 in the 100 but didn't advance to the finals.

Besides Jager and Sames, UST will also have Matt Griswold (400 hurdles) , Kyle Brandon (1,500) and its 4x100 and 4x400 teams competing Saturday in the finals as it looks to score 20-40 team points in those six events.

Click here for meet results:

http://raceberryjam.com/results/ncoutmenevt.html

Thursday story

The St. Thomas men advanced to the finals in the 4x400 and 4x100 relays with the first and second fastest times in Thursday's preliminary heats on the first of three days of the NCAA Division III Track and Field Championships in Marietta, Ohio.

The 4x400 team had the fastest time of the 15 entrants at 3:11.85 with Phil Bastron, James Ewer, Joe 
DeFrance and Patrick Jager. It's the second fastest 4x400 in school history. Three other MIAC teams will join UST in the finals.

In the 4x100, St. Thomas had the second best overall time as it ran 40.96 with Ewer, Sam Moen, DeFrance and Jager.

UST was unable to score in the long jump and the hammer but qualified for the finals individually with senior Kyle Brandon in the 1,500 and sophomore Matt Grsiwold in the 400 hurdles. DeFrance just missed advancing in the 200 meters. Soph Andrew Brueggen threw 169-7 to miss the nine-man finals by one spot and two feet. In the long jump Ewer went 22-3 1-2 and was 11th of 17 entrants.

On Friday, UST has four others in the prelims as Jager will run the 400-meter run, Ewer wil run the 100 meters and Brian Sames and Mike Hutton will run the 800 meters.

Click here for meet results:

http://raceberryjam.com/results/ncoutmenevt.html