Feb. 20, 2009

KINGSTON, R.I. – After the first day of competition at the Atlantic 10 Indoor Track & Field Championships, the men's squad of Saint Joseph's sits in fourth place on Friday night.  Kyle Murray (5K) and the Distance Medley Relays claimed silver medals, while Bobby Staten advanced to the finals in two events.

The Hawks saw Murray, who ran a time of 14:39.74, finish just two seconds behind Charlotte's Ryan Jank.  Freshman Kevin McDonnell captured fifth place in a time of 14:47.37.

The SJU DMR squad entered today's events the first seed, but they too were beaten by just a couple of seconds.  Charlotte's DMR won the event, besting the relay of Ryan Birchmeier, Ryan Fenimore, Drew Brandt and Brian Guterl.  The quartet ran a time of 10:08.75.

Bobby Staten qualified easily to the finals of the 55-meter and 200-meter dashes tomorrow.  Staten won his heat to qualify third in a time of 6.46 for the 55m.  In the 200m, Staten was fourth in a time of 22.46.  Joining him in the finals will be freshman Tom DiNatale whose 22.66 was good for sixth.

Other qualifiers from today included Nick DeFeo (400m), Brian Smith (500m, Brendan Kearney (800m), Steve Young (1,000m) and Luke Fischer (1,000m).

The title of 2009 A-10 Men's Indoor Track & Field Champion will be crowned tomorrow afternoon.  Events kick off tomorrow morning at Mackal Fieldhouse on the campus of Rhode Island.

Q – Won heat, advances to Finals
q – Advances to Finals
(2) – Points won in Finals

55m Dash Prelims
3. Bobby Staten    6.46Q

200m Dash Prelims
4. Bobby Staten    22.46q
6. Tom DiNatale    22.66q
13. Paul Barolette    23.17

400m Dash Prelims
8. Nick DeFeo        50.82q
12. Drew Brandt    51.34
18. Steven Philbrook    52.60

500m Run Prelims
9. Brian Smith        1:07.44q
12. Jared Sabre    1:07.53
16. Dylan Wenik    1:08.08

800m Run Prelims
7. Brendan Kearney    1:56.16q
19. Jesse Brooks    2:00.32
20. Murphy O'Donnell 2:00.90

1,000m Run Prelims
5. Steve Young    2:28.24q
6. Luke Fischer    2:29.13q
17. Logan Hohs    2:38.62

5,000m Run Finals
2. Kyle Murray    14:39.74 (8)
5. Kevin McDonnell    14:47.37 (4)
17. Jimmy Jennings    15:40.56

Long Jump Finals
13. Victor DiNoia    6.01m / 19-8 ¾

Distance Medley Relay Finals
2. SJU            10:08.75 (8)
Birchmeier, Brandt, Fenimore, Guterl

Team Rankings
1. Charlotte        50
2. Rhode Island    44
3. Temple        25
4. Saint Joseph's    20
5. Richmond        19
6. Fordham        16