February 10, 2012

Devil Men Post Four Wins to Claim Ursinus Open Title

(Collegeville, Pa.) - With a string of strong performances at yesterday's Ursinus Open, the Dickinson College men's track and field team is starting to show the depth and breadth that has won them the last two outdoor Centennial Conference championships.

After a slightly delayed start to his track season due to an extended football season, senior Mike Tucker (Pottstown, Pa./Pottstown) is returning to the form that has made him one of the best throwers in the conference the last two years. He won the shot put with a throw of 14.48 meters (47-6.25) that now ranks second in the conference.

Tucker's teammates weren't far behind as classmate Corwyn Gordon (Hanover, Pa./South Western) placed third at 14.02m (46-0) and sophomore Casey Caslin (West Chester, Pa./Henderson) finished fourth. Tucker and Gordon's throws were season bests, while Caslin missed his by a mere two centimeters. The trio now ranks second, fourth, and fifth in conference.

In addition to the dominant throwing corps, the Red Devils also had a near-monopoly on the distance events at the meet. The Red Devils won the 800, mile and 5000, and had three of the top four runners in the mile and three of the top five in the 5k. Sophomore Jonathon Jackson (Lebanon, Pa./Cedar Crest) won the 800 in 1:59.06. That marks the first time Jackson has ever broken two minutes indoors and the sixth fastest time in the conference.

Classmate Omar Hyjek (Sewickley, Pa./Quaker Valley) led the mile gun-to-tape with his 4:25.00 ranking seventh in the conference. And after dropping out with an ankle injury last week, junior Andrew Fine (Ridgewood, N.J./Ridgewood) won the 5k in 15:08.23. Fine won by 36 seconds and lapped every single other runner in the race.

First-year Archie Odenyo (Bristow, Va./Episcopal) placed second in the triple jump with a mark of 13.19m (43-3.25). That is the fourth time Archie has jumped over 13 meters this season. The lowest finish that 13.00 meters has placed in the last three indoor conference championships is seventh.

The Red Devils go to New York's famously fast Armory for the NYU Invitational next Saturday, February 18. It is their last meet before indoor conferences.