GORHAM, MAINE 2/16/08 - The Keene State men's indoor track team went from worst to first on Saturday. After finishing fifth and seventh respectively in last year's Alliance and LEC meet standings, the Owls won both championships at the University of Southern Maine.
The team titles were decided in the triple jump - the last event of the day. Trailing by three and a half points, sophomore Frank Radlof (Milford, N.H.), who scored in six events, stepped to the line and delivered a winning jump of 13.67m. KSC freshman Sarbjit Singh (West Lebanon, N.H.) was second with a distance of 13.08m.
"We had better athletes and were able to put entries in just about all the events," said KSC Coach Peter Thomas. "It was a team championship. Everyone made a contribution."
KSC edged Southern Maine 140-131.50 for the Alliance championship and 169-148.50 for the LEC crown. The Owls last won the Alliance meet in 2002.
In addition to winning the triple jump, Radlof also placed second in the high jump (1.95m) and long jump (6.55m), finished seventh in the 55-meter hurdles (8.47), and was the runner-up 4x400 relay.
The Owls had a field day in field events. Freshman Bryan Kolacz (Brentwood, N.H.) won the weight throw with a school record (15.40m)and placed 4th in the shot with a 13.45m.
On the track, Peter Najem (Derry, N.H.) and Kevin Kelleher (Rocky Hill, Conn.) each took second in the 600 (1:23.82) and 800 (1:59.02)respectively. Freshman Craig MacPherson (Derry, N.H.) was also second in the 1,000 (2:35.55) and mile (4:20.15) races. Sean Gavaghan (Monroe, Conn.) was second (8:53.95) and Jared Samuel (Londonderry, N.H.) was third in the 3,000.
Pat Craven (North Kingstown, R.I.), Jeff Trethewey (Merrimack, N.H.), Kelleher and MacPherson also joined forces to win the 4x800 relay in a meet record time of 8:04.86.
The Keene State women won five events on the way to posting a second place finish at the meet.
The host Huskies easily defended their title outscoring Keene State 196.50-119. Since the inception of the meet in 2001, the Southern Maine has dominated the championships, winning the past eight crowns. Keene State has finished second every year.
Senior Jennifer Adams (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) raced to a pair of wins for the Owls. She finished first in the mile (5:02.60) and the 1,000 (3:05.26). Adams also teamed with Rita Marcotte (Heath, Mass.), Amy Knobloch (Plymouth, Mass.), and Krystin Gavin (Brimfield, Mass.) to win the 4x800 relay with a time of 10:13.79.
The remaining KSC victories came in field events. Crystal Blamy (Walpole, N.H.) placed first in the high jump with a meet record jump(1.65m) and Bryanna Brown (Nashua, N.H.) took the shotput (11.88m).
Keene State splits its squad to compete in the New England Division III championships next weekend. The men travel to Tufts and the women head to Smith College.
