University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Big East Outdoor Track & Field Championship
Huskies Look to Carry Strong Outdoor Season into BIG EAST Championship
5/13/2021 11:02:00 AM | Men's Track and Field
WATCH on BIG EAST Digital Network -Â Day 1Â Â Day 2
STORRS, Conn. – The UConn men's track and field team will make their official return to the BIG EAST this weekend as they head to the Sprire Institute in Geneva, Ohio for the 2021 BIG EAST Outdoor Championship.Â
The championship meet will kick-off on Friday, May 14 and conclude on Saturday, May 15 with both day's events being broadcast on the BIG EAST Digital Network.Â
In their first stint in the BIG EAST, the Huskies claimed four outdoor league championships including their last season in 2013. The also won titles in 2011, 2002 and 1982.
"This men's team is one of the better teams we have had at UConn," stated Director of Cross Country and Track & Field Greg Roy. "We are in great shape. We have had a great season. We are as healthy as can be. And I think they are just rearing to get out there and show what UConn track and field looks like to the BIG EAST."
"They have been waiting for this for a while and we are really, really excited about it," commented Roy. "There is not a place that we are not right there. It will be up to the individuals to perform at a championship level. For us, a championship level is better than you have ever been. Whether by a hundredth, a centimeter or a win."
The Huskies have had a tremendous spring building to the championship portion of their schedule. UConn has held down the No. 1 ranking in the USTFCCCA Northeast Regional rankings all spring, a streak of seven-straight weeks heading into this weekend's conference meet.
On the track the Huskies enter the weekend with the top-ranked runner in five events. The junior combo of Noah Woodman (Hampstead, N.H.) and Wellington Ventura (Cresskill, N.J.) are one-two in the 400 meters, at 46.47 and 46.69 seconds, respectively. Woodman has the second fastest time in the 200 meters (20.86) while Ventura sits atop the 400-meter hurdle rankings at 50.97 seconds. The duo was also a part of the UConn 4x400 relay team that turned in the fastest time in the BIG EAST this season.
Sophomore Joseph O'Brien (Shrewsbury, Mass.) owns the top-time in the 200 meters this season at 20.86 seconds while coming in with the second fastest time in the 100 meter dash (10.46). Freshman Terrel Williams (Maplewood, N.J.) posted the fastest time in the conference in the 110-meter hurdles at 14.01 seconds.
The Huskies field athletes enter the weekend at the top of all eight event rankings. Senior Todd Stueber (Toms River, N.J.) is at the top of both the shot put (18.49m) and discus (52.91m) rankings headed into the weekend. Classmate Matthew Brady (Biddeford, Maine) is second in the shot put (17.65m) and fourth in the discus (49.29m).
UConn holds the top three spots in the rankings in the javelin led by junior Michael Jeffers (Clifton Park, N.Y.) at 66.26 meters and followed by junior Colin Winkler (Barkhamstead, Conn.) at 65.52 meters and sophomore Tanner Jameson (Durham, Conn.) at 63.66 meters. The top two spots in the hammer belong to two Huskies in junior Chris Keegan (West Hartford, Conn.) at 63.13 meters and senior Cameron Thompson (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.) at 58.75 meters.
In the jumps, senior Safir Scott (Greenwich, Conn.) owns the top leaps in both the long jump (7.58m) and the triple jump (15.76m) this season. He will also run in the 400 meters. Senior Daniel Claxton (Nesconset, N.Y.) had the top height this spring, clearing a height of 2.14 meters.
In the pole vault, sophomore Travis Snyder (Saco, Maine) is at the top of the rankings thanks to a 5.28-meter height and he's followed by teammates junior Tyler Hrbek (Northvale, N.J.) at 5.12 meters and senior Devon McShane (Madison, Conn.) at 4.93 meters.
Three Huskies will compete in the decathlon as seniors Jordan Torney (Toms River, N.J.) who had a new PR and the second highest point total in the league at 7,282 points at Navy. Senior Benjamin Grosse (Wayzata, Minn.), who also had a PR at Navy (6,961) and junior Nicholas Pronovost (Coventry, Conn.) will also compete
"To win, we have to perform like we have all season and then some," stated Roy. "Each individual will have their own 'BIG EAST Championship'. We aren't looking to the left or the right. We run in our lane, compete in your event and they rest of the events will take care of themselves."
Players Mentioned
