Teams: Men's Track & Field: Press Releases

Wednesday, May 9, 2007

MEN'S TRACK & FIELD PUTS 19 ON ALL-NESCAC TEAM

MEDFORD -- The Tufts University Men's Outdoor Track & Field team tied for first place at the 2007 New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Championships with a true all-around team performance. The Jumbos scored 197.5 points at the championship meet hosted by Middlebury College to tie Williams for the title. With just three individual titles, the team accumulated so many points with their depth of scoring in places second through eighth. That is supported with the release of the 2007 All-NESCAC team, which honors the top three in each event. Head coach Ethan Barron's squad has 17 selections, the most out of anyone in the conference.

Three Jumbos earned All-NESCAC status in three events. Senior tri-captain Fred Jones (Northfield, MA) earned second place in both the long jump (22 feet, 11 inches) and the triple jump (46' 6 3/4"), while also running the second leg of the 4x100-meter relay that took second place with a time of 42.55 seconds. Freshman Andrew Longley (Short Hills, NJ) also posted three top-three performances at the NESCACs, in the 400 meter hurdles (55.52 seconds for second play, as the anchor leg of the 4x1 and as the third leg of the 4x400-meter relay that placed second in 3 minutes, 21.02 seconds. Junior Nate Scott (East Hartford, CT) had thirds in the 400 meter hurdles (56.75 sconds) and high jump (6' 1 1/4"), and also was the second leg of the 4x4.

Three more Jumbos were All-NESCAC recipients in two events apiece. Sophomore James Bradley (Atkinson, NH) was second in the high jump, clearing 6'3 1/4", and was also the anchor of the 4x4. Freshman Colin Fitzgerald's (Scarborough, NY) speed was earned him All-NESCAC in both the 100 meters (11.18 seconds for third place) and with the 4x1. Junior distance-man Dave Sorensen (Dover, MA) was the runner-up in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (9:17.52) and led off the Distance Medley Relay that took third in a 10:25.55 time.

Nine other Jumbo athletes were named All-NESCAC for singular performances. Senior tri-captain Nate Cleveland (Auburn, ME), freshman Billy Hale (Menlo Park, CA) and freshman Jesse Faller (Burlington, MA) were recognized as part of the DMR. In fact, it was Faller's kick down the stretch in the DMR that earned Tufts the points to tie Williams. Senior Mickey Ferri (Stamford, CT) ran the lead-off leg in the 4x1, and classmate Dustin Virgilio (Pittsfield, MA) was the first man in the 4x4. The three Jumbo champions were Ikenna Acholonu (Shoreline, WA) in the 110-meter hurdles (15.3 seconds), junior Jeremy Arak (Ipswich, MA) in the high jump (6'3 1/2") and senior Josh Kennedy (Guilford, CT) in the 5,000 meters (15:04.03). Freshman Jared Engelking (Westborough, MA) was also All-NESCAC in the 110-meter hurdles, finishing third in 15.37 seconds. Senior tri-captain David McCleary (Ellington, CT) was the runner-up in the Javelin with a heave of 177-feet flat, and sophomore Skip Pagel (Mystic, CT) was third in the pole vault (13'3").

The co-NESCAC title for Tufts was its first since 1991. Williams had won 14 of the previous 15 conference championships.

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