Throwers Lead Navy's Efforts at Penn Relays

April 23, 2010

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - Sophomore Chris Ricks delivered a career-best effort to place second in the javelin, highlighting the Navy men's track and field team's efforts at the 116th Penn Relays on Saturday afternoon at Franklin Field.

Ricks recorded a PR 210'9" (64.24 meters) toss to place second in the men's college javelin competition. The toss, the third-longest recorded by a Patriot League thrower this season, surpassed his previous career-best of 205'6" (62.64 meters), established earlier this spring on March 20.

Senior Mark Van Orden also turned in a strong effort, taking sixth in the college men's hammer throw championship. Van Orden went over 200' on his fourth throw of the day with a with 202' (61.57 meters) effort. It was the second time this spring and third time in his career over 200'. He will carry the top seed into next weekend's league championship, as he aims for a third-consecutive league hammer throw crown.

In the 4xMile Championship of America relay, the Navy foursome of Cody Rome (4:08.4), Dominic DellaPelle (4:05.9), Kenneth Bunnell (4:13.5) and Andrew Hanko (4:02.5) teamed up for a solid ninth-place showing in 16:30.25. Hanko posted the fifth-best mile among the 60 individual runners in the event.

The Midshipmen follow up this weekend's action with the Patriot League Championship, hosted by Bucknell, on April 30-May 1.

Navy Track & Field at the 116th Penn RelaysThursday's PerformancesName                    Event                   Place, MarkAaron Foote              3,000m Steeplechase 15th, 9:19.84Matthew De Villers     5,000m                  36th, 15:09.98
Friday's PerformancesName                    Event                   Place, MarkJoshua Houston        High Jump               17th, 1.96m (6-5)Brian Zitterkopf        High Jump               18th, 1.96m (6-5)Chris Boniwell            Shot Put                12th, 15.19m (49-10)Paul Neidhardt            Pole Vault              NHNathan Woodason      Pole Vault              NHMiles Snelgrove          Long Jump               24th, 6.65m (21-10)Fanning, Jackson        4x400 Relay             40th, 3:17.71Evers, AshFanning, Iwuji          4x100 Relay             57th, 42.93Crawford, JacksonHanley, Simmonds    Shuttle Hurdles Relay   10th, 1:01.44Picache, ZitterkopfCrawford, Armijo        Sprint Medley Relay     33rd, 3:31.36Kempel, Roy
Saturday's PerformancesName                    Event                   Place, MarkMark Van Orden     Hammer Throw        6th, 61.57m (202-0)Chris Ricks      Javelin Throw       2nd, 64.24m (210-9)Devan Clark             Javelin Throw           7th, 61.63m (202-2)Miles Snelgrove         Javelin Throw           11th, 60.40m (198-1)Tim Gruber              Javelin Throw           20th, 57.44m (188-5)Brian Zitterkopf        Triple Jump     14th, 13.66m (44-9.75)Ash, Stevenson,     4x800 Relay     20th, 7:44.31Evers, RoyRome, Della Pelle   4xMile Relay        9th, 16:30.25Bunnell, Hanko