University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
NCAA East Preliminary
Eric Van Der Els Qualifies for NCAA Championship at East Prelims
5/27/2022 9:55:00 PM | Men's Track and Field
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The UConn men's track and field team wrapped up competition at the 2022 NCAA East Preliminary with senior Eric Van Der Els (Norwalk, Conn.) earning himself a spot in the NCAA Championship meet next month.
Van Der Els turned in a fourth-place finish in the 5,000 meters on a rainy and wet Haugh Track & Field at Indiana University. Van Der Els clocked in at 13:39.29 to earn himself a spot in the championship race at the University of Oregon on June 8-11. This will be Van Der Els first NCAA Championship appearance
Sophomore Terrel Williams (Maplewood, NJ) finished in 17th place in the 110 meter hurdles, running in 13.82 seconds, his second fastest time this season. He had a new PR in the opening round on Wednesday at 13.70 seconds. In the 400 meter hurdles, junior Wellington Ventura (Cresskill, Conn.) finished 17th in the field, clocking in at 51.26 seconds, his second fastest time this spring.
Senior Daniel Claxton (Nesconset, NY) finished 28th overall in the high jump, clearing a height of 2.05 meters.
In the 3,000-meter steeplechase, sophomore Kevin Cawley (Massapequa, NY) 34th in the field with a time of 9:08.37 while classmate Chris Lepore (Trumbull, Conn.) was 42nd with a clocking of 9:12.57.
During Wednesday's first day of competition, sophomore Colin Winkler (Barkhamsted, Conn.) produced a new PR in the javelin on his first throw of the day at 66.84 meters to finish 15th overall. Classmate Gabriel Fountain (Manchester, Conn.) was 41st with his best throw coming on his final attempt at 60.24 meters. In the long jump, sophomore Richmond Kwaateng (Lowell, Mass.) was 44th with a leap of 7.07 meters. In the pole vault, junior Travis Snyder (Saco, Maine) was 21st overall with a height of 5.04 meters and classmate Tyler Hrbek (Northvale, NJ) was 33rd at 4.89 meters.
On Saturday, the UConn women will wrap up competition as senior Mia Nahom (New Milford, Conn.) will run in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and junior Patricia Mroczkowski (Berlin, Conn.) will compete in the high jump with shots at qualifying for the NCAA Championship.
Players Mentioned
