Feb. 11, 2012
Results
CLEMSON, S.C. - The Navy men's indoor track and field team (8-2) competed at Clemson's Tiger Paw Invitational this Friday and Saturday. This is the final meet for Navy prior to the 2012 Patriot League Indoor Championship. There was no team scoring in the Tiger Paw Invitational and Navy was joined by Clemson, No. 22 Georgia, The Citadel, Coastal Carolina, Furman and a number of other schools.
"Overall we had a pretty good meet," said head coach Stephen Cooksey. "Our pole vaulters and our weight throwers did welland we looked good all the way down the line. Mitch Simmonds also ran very well in the hurdles. Now we are looking ahead to Patriot Leagues next week and we feel pretty good about where we are."
Senior Paul Neidhardt won the pole vault with a clear of 16-0¾ (4.90m, IC4A). Freshman Mark Vetere placed second (15-7, 4.75m) and sophomore Ryan Kochert was third (5-7, 4.75m).
Junior Mitch Simmonds ran a personal record time of 8.14 in the 60m hurdles to place seventh. Earlier in the day, Simmonds ran an 8.24 in the prelims. The 8.14 is under the IC4A qualifying standard and is the fourth-best time in school history.
Senior Chris Ricks took second place in the weight throw with a mark of 59-5 (18.11m). It was Ricks' best mark of the year and second best of his career and is over the IC4A standard. Billy Grammer was ninth in the weight throw with a personal record and IC4A mark of 55-6¼ (16.92m).
Senior Chris Boniwell placed eighth in the shot put with a 50-9¼ (15.74m).
Freshman Jalen Elrod (7.17, 36th) and sophomore Brett Bogaard (7.20, 40th) both competed in the 60m dash. Bogaard was also 21st in the 200m dash with a time of 22.67 and Elrod was 41st (23.27).
Freshman Joshua Kingsland placed sixth in the 500m (1:06.53) and freshman Ryan Pajor was ninth (1:07.06).
Senior Matt Evers placed eighth in the 800m (1:56.32), Joshua Shaw was 11th (1:56.76) and senior Lucas Connelly was 12th (1:57.02).
Senior Josh Houston tied for second place in the high jump with a clear of 6-6¾ (2.00m), his second-best height of the year. Junior Rand Montermini was seventh in the event with a clear of 6-2¾ (1.90m).
Navy will begin its defense of the Patriot League Indoor Championship on Friday. Bucknell will host the three-day league meet.
