M. track tops Penn while two Tigers qualify for NCAAs

In what hopefully is a prelude to the Heptagonal Championships, men's track and field bested defending league champion Penn at a quad meet Saturday also featuring host Penn State and distance powerhouse Villanova.

Despite trepidation about a snow covered track, perfect conditions were marred only by a slight wind.

Most notable results were NCAA regional qualifying marks posted by junior Tristan Colangelo in the steeplechase and junior Tim Releford in the javelin. Colangelo completed the 3000 meter barrier-laced course in a first place time of nine minutes, 7.45 seconds, defeating his closest pursuer by over 11 seconds. Releford placed third with a throw of 69.00m (226 feet-04 inches).

Impressive performances were had in the 400m as well. Sophomore Mike Kopp had not competed since indoor Heps and came out and finished in 49.24s, which should give him great confidence heading into the championship phase of the season. Sophomore classmate Justin Reed, despite nursing an injury, ran 48.59 to place third.

Senior David Dean and junior Jon Kieliszak placed first and second in the 800m run with times of 1:52.76 and 1:54.47, respectively. Kieliszak doubled back in the 1500m, placing third in a race won by Penn's All-American Sam Burely. Kielszak ran 3:53.12 to narrowly edge senior teammate Jon Bell (3:53.46). Bell will move up in distance this Thursday as he travels to southern California, along with sophomore teammate Austin Smith, to compete in the 5000m run at the Mt. SAC Relays.

Princeton fared well in the jumps, with a trio of runner-up finishes. Sophomore Dwaine Banton recorded a mark of 7.23m in the long jump, junior Marcus Ford-Bey a mark of 14.04m in the triple jump and sophomore Mike Weishuhun leapt 1.98m in the high jump.

As has come to be expected, the Tigers dominated the shot put and weight throw. Junior Josh McCaughey captured the latter by throwing a distance of 57.72m, closely followed by classmate and teammate Mark Smith (56.46m). Junior Rocky Craley bettered his standing regional qualifying mark with a 16.71m victory in the shot put.

Senior captain Cameron Atkinson won the 100m in a time of 10.74. Atkinson is steadily working his way towards the regional qualifying standard of 10.50. Senior Pat Shottle placed a close second in the 200m with a time of 21.77.

"It was very encouraging to defeat Penn," senior co-captain Jeff Petrulis said. "It gives us great confidence in our final weeks of preparation leading up to the Heptagonal Championships."