|
2/21/2009 - MEN'S INDOOR TRACK
ETSU Buccaneers Take Back the Title in 2009
|
Print
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - ETSU and Kennesaw State battled event to event, but a one-two finish in the 5000-meter run pushed the Buccaneers over the top and take the 2009 Atlantic Sun Conference Indoor Track & Field Championship, their third title in four years.
Most Outstanding Track Performer Benjamin Ronoh and teammate Kenneth Rotich claimed the top two positions in decisive 5000-meter run to provide the winning margin. ETSU’s long-time coach David Walker earned Coach of the Year honors.
The day-long battle between the Owls and Bucs started early in a contest of strength and endurance in the 35-lb. weight throw. Kennesaw State’s Joshua McNair and ETSU’s Jarrod Burton combined to break the conference record six times in the event. Burton came out on victorious with a throw of 18.61 meters breaking his record set in 2008 with a throw of 17.63m.
After stand-out performances in the 60-meter dash, 60-meter hurdles and the 1000 meter run, ETSU’s Nic Chernikow took home gold and set a conference record in the heptathlon with 4820 points. Teammate senior Josh Cloyd followed up his Friday night win in the long jump with a victory in the triple jump, leaping 14.38 meters.
In the mile run, Kennesaw State’s Scott Burley successfully defended his title by breaking his own conference record, posting a time of 4 minutes, 11.03 seconds. The top five finishers all ran faster times than the previous record. In the 800, the three top runners posted faster times, with Owls’ Gianni Catalano setting a conference mark with a time of 1:53.60
Campbell’s Harold Sims set a conference record in the 400-meter dash with a time of 48.44 seconds and his team’s first place finish in the 4x400 helped earned him Most Valuable Performer. USC Upstate’s Perrish Goggins finished second in the high jump and triple jump and also participated in the heptathlon to earn Most Outstanding Field Performer.
The Atlantic Sun Conference is an 11-member league committed to Building Winners for Life. The A-Sun stands for achievement with integrity in both the academic and athletic arenas, with a focus on the balance between the two for our student-athletes. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun boasts six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun includes a blend of the most prestigious and dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, Campbell University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Mercer University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University.
Coach of the Year
David Walker, ETSU
Most Valuable Performer
Harold Sims, Campbell
Most Outstanding Freshman
Kendall Parks, Kennesaw State
Most Outstanding Field Performer
Perrish Goggins, USC Upstate
Most Outstanding Track Performer
Benjamin Ronoh, ETSU
