Mark O'Connell wins NCAA hammer throw

May 23, 2008

In his first national meet, Tommie senior Mark O'Connell of Edina won the hammer throw Friday at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Oshkosh, Wis. He became St. Thomas' first male NCAA track and field champion since 1995.

O'Connell's winning throw of 191-0 was recorded on his last throw, and beat runner-up Trevor Matuszak of Defiance (189-3)  by 21 inches. O'Connell, the eighth-seed,  moved into second on UST's all-time list in the hammer.

McConnell's 10 points vaulted St. Thomas into the team scoring lead, with eight of 22 events complete, heading into Saturday's final day. UST has 19 points and has a chance for a top-10 finish if it can score more in Saturday's finals with P.J. Theisen in the 400 hurdles and Matt Boumeester in the 1,500.

UST junior Brian Sames just missed advancing to the finals in Friday's 800 prelims as ran 1:53.05 and was 10th and missed the nine-man field.

On the women's side, Erin Sprangers advanced to the finals in the 800 meters (2:11.00), but Kelly Russ (2:14.06) and Katie Theisen (2:13.88) didn't make the nine-woman finals.

Arola was unable to reach the finals in the 400 meters as she ran 57.85.

Click here for updated results:

http://www.raceberryjam.com/ncoutwomenevt.html

NCAA Division III Track & Field Championships

Day 2 of 3/Oshkosh, Wis.

Friday's Men's team leaders and MIAC teams

St. Thomas 19; Monmouth (Il) 16; UW-Platteville 13; St. John's 13; UW-Oshkosh 12; UW-Whitewater 10; UW-La Crosse 10; Whitworth 10; Redlands 10; Mount Union 10; Moravian 10; Hamilton 10.

Friday MIAC Placewinners

--Hammer: 1. Mark O'Connell, St. Thomas, 191-0.

--Steeplechase: 2. Chris Erichsen, St. John's,

Women's Team leaders and MIAC teams

UW-Oshkosh 19; Keene State 18; McMurry 16; Colby 12; UW-River Falls 11; UW-La Crosse 11; Roanoke 11; UW-Whitewater 10; Redlands 10; Messiah 10; Dickinson 10; Case Western Reserve 10. Others: tie 15. Gustavus 8; tie 30. Concordia-Moorhead 4.5.

Friday MIAC Placewinners

--Heptathlon: 2. Kaelene Lundstro, Gustavus, 4,762; 5, Leah Kay, Concordia-Moorhead, 4,624

Mark O'Connell closed his career in style