University of Connecticut Athletics
Huskies Place Fourth At IC4A Championship
5/19/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track and Field
PRINCETON, NJ -- Led by two NCAA provisional qualifying efforts on Sunday, the University of Connecticut men’s track and field team placed in a tie for fourth with Seton Hall at the IC4A Championship at Princeton University. The Huskies amassed 50 points over the weekend while Georgetown won the championship with 87 points.
On the day, the Huskies recorded four top-three finishes, including a second-place performance in the javelin throw for sophomore Paul Pisano (Toms River, NJ). Pisano recorded a throw of 69.28 meters (227’3”), an NCAA provisional qualifying mark. Pisano had also previously qualified provisionally for the NCAA Championship with an effort of 71.10 meters (233’3”) at the BIG EAST Championship on May 5.
Junior Joe Mendel (Wayne, NJ) posted UConn’s other NCAA qualifying effort of the day, becoming the fifth Husky to register a provisional or automatic qualifying mark in the outdoor season. Mendel, an All-American in the indoor season, ran a school record and NCAA provisional qualifying time of 46.04 to finish third in the 400-meter dash.
UConn’s other top-three performances on the day came from senior Elliott Blount (Freeport, NY), who finished third in the 800-meter run with a time of 1:49.01, and junior Mike Deibler (Monroe, NY), who placed second in the high jump with an effort of 2.09 meters (6’10 1/4”).
Freshman Mark Godoy (Ozone Park, NY) was also in action for the Huskies on Sunday, placing 19th in the triple jump.
Earlier in the championship, UConn had garnered points from performances by junior Mike Boney (East Haven, CT) in the decathlon, sophomore Joe DiCola (Courtland Manor, NY) in the decathlon and pole vault, sophomore Chris Mazza (Toms River, NJ) in the pole vault, sophomore Will Thomas (Wakefield, RI) in the pole vault and sophomore John Barth (Wakefield, RI) in the hammer throw.
With the exception of Blount, Mendel, Pisano, Thomas and senior Dan Wilson (West Haven, CT), the IC4A Championship concludes the season for the team. Both Wilson and Thomas have automatically qualified for the NCAA Championship. Wilson will compete in the 1500-meter run, which begins with preliminary action on Thursday, May 30. Thomas will be in the decathlon, which starts on Friday, May 31. UConn will await word from the NCAA later this week on whether Blount, Mendel and Pisano’s provisional marks will earn the trio berths to the NCAA Championship. Heading into this weekend, Blount ranked 18th in the 800-meter run while Pisano was 12th in the javelin throw. Mendel’s effort today ranks him 19th in the 400-meter dash.
The NCAA Championship will take place at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, LA, on May 29 through June 1.
Team Standings
1. Georgetown 87
2. East Carolina 52
3. George Mason 51.33
4. UConn 50
Seton Hall 50
