Complete ResultsBoston, Mass. – February 11, 2012 - The Springfield College men’s track and field team competed in the Boston University Valentine Invitational on Saturday afternoon. It was a non-scoring meet with teams participating from all three NCAA Divisions.
Kevin Coyle was the Pride’s top finisher in the Invitational. Coyle won the triple jump and placed 4th in the long jump event. The former national champion took the triple jump with a leap of 14.83 meters, while his long jump distance of 7.03 meters was tops among Division III competitors in the event.
Mason Durant also fared well for Springfield in the field events, taking 9th in the shot put. Durant’s toss of 14.19 meters was fourth among Division III athletes. The Pride’s Orlando Harvey unleashed a good throw as well, measuring 13.65 meters and a 14th place finish. In the weight throw, Scott Leech earned a top-40 finish as his throw of 11.69 meters was good for 33rd overall.
William Ferguson was another top performer for Springfield, finishing in a tie for 21st in the high jump. Ferguson’s leap of 1.84 meters equaled the jump of Division I athletes from Dartmouth College and Boston University.
Cross country standouts Brian Fuller and Ryan O’Connell were top finishers for the Pride, running well in the 5000 meter event. Fuller finished 24th with a time of 14:45.59 and O’Connell crossed the line soon after in 14:46.01. Anthony Salvucci joined his teammates in the top-50, placing 43rd and clocking in at 15:07.48.
Matt Scully ran well for Springfield, placing 45th in the 1000 meter run with a time of 2:33.70. Other solid performances came in the 200 meter event, where the Pride earned two spots in the top-100. Garrett Sharnick and Michael Johnson finished 80th and 81st, respectively, with Sharnick clocking in at 23.14 seconds and Johnson right behind him at 23.15. Springfield also saw a top-100 finish in the 400 meter dash. Walker Smith sprinted to a 51.25 second time, good for 90th overall.
The Pride will host the New England Division III Championships next Friday and Saturday in the Springfield College Field House.
Ken Klatka, just inducted into the Springfield College Athletic Hall of Fame in October, 2011, enters his 37th season as head coach of the men’s track and field program in 2012-2013. He ranks among the nation’s most successful coaches, with an overall record of 442 wins, 144 losses, and two ties for an impressive .753 winning percentage. Under his direction, Kevin Coyle '12 won the 2011 Division III Indoor Long Jump National Championship.
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