Teams: Men's Track & Field: Press Releases

Date: Thursday, February 15, 2001

NEW ENGLAND DIVISION III'S BEST AT TUFTS THIS WEEKEND

The best Division III track & field athletes in New England will fill Tufts University's Gantcher Family Sports & Convocation Center this weekend (Feb. 16-17, 2001) for the 22nd Annual Indoor Championships. This is the first championship meet hosted at the Gantcher Center, which opened in November 1999.

This preview was written before team's submitted their final declarations for the meet. Therefore, this is a general preview based on casual conversations, individual times during the regular season and returning champions from the 2000 New England Division III meet.

Among the many strong teams in attendance, Williams College is the early favorite. Sophomore Mike Sheehan ran a school-record, New England's best time of 1:22.14 in the 600 Meters here last weekend. Senior Jay Slowik's 2:30.42 in the 1,000 Meters on February 3 at Dartmouth is the best DIII time in the region. Junior Kevin Reilly will also be a factor in the middle distances. The Ephs should also score points in the field events, with senior Jason Mirach coming as the two-time defending champ in the Triple Jump.

Defending champion MIT will be right there to challenge Williams. Senior Sean Montgomery has New England's top time in the 800 Meters (1:54.05). Junior Dan Feldman has the top 5,000 time with a 14:47.91 on January 20. Sophomore Craig Mielcarz is the defending champion in the High Jump and in the Pentathlon. MIT should also score big in the relays.

A strong Wheaton College team looks to be a major presence in the sprint and jump events. Junior Rahiem Greenridge cleared 7-0 1/4 in the High Jump on February 3, and posted a 50-6 3/4 Triple Jump on January 20. He is a front-runner in the sprints, as well. Senior Rob Tyson's best in the Long Jump (23-10 3/4) is nearly 16 inches further than anyone else's. Junior teammate Ray Smith has the second-best jump (22-7) in the event this season.

Springfield College should make a strong showing. The Pride are led by senior Damian Larkins, the two-time defending champion in the shot put. They'll be a force in the 800 Meters with junior Rob Mateicka and senior Ben Harwood.

Bowdoin and Bates are striving to finish in the top five. For Bates, senior Eric Zwick is a top challenger in the distance sprints. Sophomore Stephen Gresham is the defending champion in the 400 Meters. Junior Jaime Sawler enters as the favorite in the 35-lb. Weight Throw. Sophomore Jeff Manganaro and senior Stephen Allison have been the highest scorers for Bowdoin this winter. Sophomore Byron Boots won the 1,000 Meters as a freshman last season.

Keene State will have some of the best middle distance runners in the meet. Senior Joe Dunham and sophomore Mark Miller are a talented pair in any event from the 500 to the 3,000. Miller is the defending champion in the 1,500. Senior Wilson Perez is the top Owl in the 5,000. Host Tufts is led by senior Dave Patterson, who has New England's top time in the 3,000 Meters this season (8:32.79). The sophomore tandem of Bryan Pitko and Greg Devine look to score big in the 55 High Hurdles.

Middlebury senior Ethan Barron rules the 55 High Hurdles as the two-time defending champion. The same could be said about Coast Guard junior Jason Haag in the Pole Vault, where he is the defending champion and the season's best. Worcester State senior Stanley Egbor is a runner to watch in the 55 and 200 Meters (21.76 last week). Rhode Island College senior Tom Conley might be the most interesting competitor in this weekend's meet, with top performances this season in the 55 Meter Dash and the Shot Put.

However it turns out, Tufts is pleased and proud to host the annual New England Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships.

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