Men's Track sharp at Drake; Joe Thomas makes NCAA meet

April 26, 2003
The St. Thomas men's track and field team had a productive weekend at the Drake Relays in Des Moines and at Saturday's St. John's Invitational.

Junior Joe Thomas won the SJU high jump in 6-10 3-4 to hit the automatic qualifying standard for nationals. It's the fifth-best jump this outdoor season in Division III.

At Drake, the Toms just missed an automatic time in the 4x400 as they placed seventh in a strong field in 3:13.80. That's this season's third-fastest time in Division III, just off the automatic standard of 3:13.70. The UST and MIAC all-time record is 3:12.30, set at the 2002 NCAA Championships. Andrew Hilliard, Carson Glad, Robert Ware and Jason Schwietz comprised the relay.

The Toms also took sixth in the Drake 4x100 in 41.74 with Hilliard, Roman Cress, Tom Hart and Carson Glad. The Toms have already provisionally qualified for nationals after clocking 41.65 at the April 19 Kansas Relays. Hilliard improved his provisional time in the 400 hurdles as he ran 53.61 for 15th place. That's the 12th fastest Division III time in that event this outdoor season.

At. St. John's, Matt McLaughlin won the hammer (153-8) and the discus (138-9) and was third in the shot put (44-6). Andrew Kisielius (45-7) and Thomas (44-11 3/4) placed 2-3 in the triple jump; Will Hawthorne (15:37.12) and Brock Stepan (15:37.98) placed 1-2 in the 5,000; Dave Diercks was third in the javelin (157-3); Shaun Sharpe was third in the 200 (22.80); J.J. Kirby was fourth in the high jump (6-2 3/4) and fourth in the 400 meters (49.79); Joe Putzstuck was fourth in the 100 (11.28) and fourth in the 200 (22.90); Hezbon Mose was fifth in the 100 (11.30) Mike Madison was fifth in the 400 hurdles (58.17); Kevin Wright was fifth in the 1,500 (4:10.11); Jason Larson was sixth in the 110 hurdles (16.78); and Jerod Gray was sixth in the high jump (6-0 3/4).

The Tommies compete May 3 at the Meet of the Saints in St. Olaf.

see links to Drake, St. John's meet results here