Rhody Men Place Second at Atlantic 10 Championships

Feb. 21, 2009

Day Two Results |  John Copeland Interview

KINGSTON, R.I. - The Rhode Island men's track and field team totaled 152 points to finish second at the 2009 Atlantic 10 Indoor Track and Field Championships. The event was held at Mackal Field House.

Rhody's finish in the event marked the second-straight season URI had finished runner-up. The Rams have placed first or second in the championships every year, dating back to 2001.

Junior James Whalen (Reading, Pa.) highlighted day-two competition for the Rams as he won the heptathlon en route to receiving 2009 Field Performer of the Year honors.

In the 500-meter run, sophomore David Kennedy (Essex Junction, Vt.) successfully defended his 2008 title as he won the event with a time of 1:04.10.

Juniors Tyler Adams (Middletown, R.I.) and Michael Elliott (Lisbon, Conn.) also notched league titles in the shot put and high jump, respectively.

Adams' toss of 52 feet, 5.50 inches served as an IC4A qualifying standard and as a season-best. Elliott's leap of 6-10.25 in the high jump was also a season-best and IC4A qualifying mark.

2008 high jump champion Shawn Leonard (Stoughton, Mass.) took third in the event with a leap of 6-8.25.

Thrower Jacob Keeling (Chepachet, R.I.) joined Adams on the winner stand in the shot put as he took third. The URI sophomore had a heave of 51-9, which hit the IC4A qualifying mark.

Senior Alex Reid (Middletown, N.Y.) closed out his URI career at home with a pair of top-five finishes in the 55m hurdles (7.70 - fourth) and 200m dash (22.54).

Freshman Nicholas Guscott (Baldwin, N.Y.) earned a top-five finish in his first league championships meet as he took fourth in the 55m dash, clocking a time of 6.50.

Sophomore Nick Sanborn (Nashua, N.H.) also posted a strong performance for Rhody as he finished second in the 500m dash (1:04.27).

In the weight throw, sophomore Jacob Keeling (Chepachet, R.I.) finished runner-up with a toss of 56-8.50. Keeling's performance in the weight also hit the IC4A qualifying standard.

Charlotte took home the team title as it totaled 218 points to defend its 2008 crown.

The first-team All-Conference team consists of the individual winners at the two-day Championship, while the All-Conference second team is made up of the second-place finishers.

Rhody returns to action on Friday as it heads to the 2009 New England Championships in Boston, Mass.