March 25, 2002

Men's Track & Field Team Opens Outdoor Campaign

The Truman State University men's track & field team finished second out of eight teams on Saturday at the outdoor season-opening Augustana (Ill.) Early Spring Opener, in Rock Island, Ill. The 'Dogs won seven of the 20 events and finished with 154 points, one ahead of third-place Carroll and 64 back of first-place Augustana.

Sophomore Brian Dzingai (Harare, Zimbabwe/St. George's) grabbed an NCAA Division II provisional qualifying mark in the 100-meter dash with a first-place time of 10.63 seconds, a meet record. In the 200-meter dash, Dzingai posted another meet-record in the 200-meter dash as he finished in 21.40 seconds. That time may be another provisional qualification, depending on wind gauge readings.

Dzingai wasn't the team's only dual winner. Senior Nick Blackburn (St. Charles, Mo./Francis Howell North) captured the top spot in two events, the 800 and 1,500 meters.

Junior Matt Helbig (Fenton, Mo./Rockwood Summit) won the 3000-meter run, while freshman James Walton (Hinsdale, Ill./Hinsdale South), the 2002 indoor Division II runner-up in the long jump, set a meet record with a first-place leap of 23'-4.75" to win the event at the first outdoor meet of the season.

In the 4x800-meter relay, freshmen Andy Person (Wildwood, Mo./Ladue) and Ryan French (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Linn-Marr) joined seniors Andy Doering (Florissant, Mo./McCluer North) and Matt Judson (Ballwin, Mo./Marquette) to post a first-place finish in 8:14.20.

Next on the schedule for the men is their lone home meet of the season. The Bulldogs host the Truman Open on Saturday (March 30) at the Kenneth L. Gardner Track. The meet begins at 10:30 a.m.

Truman Results - Augustana Early Spring Opener (Mar. 23, 2002)
MEN'S RESULTS
100-meter dash	1st, Brian Dzingai	10.63
	6th, Alfonso Pugh	11.37
	10th, Jake Kingery	11.51
	17th, Aaron Decker	12.00
200-meter dash	1st, Brian Dzingai	21.40
	4th, Alfonso Pugh	22.78
400-meter dash	5th, Matt Groeper	52.93
800-meter run	1st, Nick Blackburn	1:59.37
	6th, Mike Brower 	2:04.04
	10th, Erik McFarlane 	2:09.02
	11th, Alan Heincker 	2:09.85
	12th, Brian McQueary 	2:10.72
1,500-meter run	1st, Nick Blackburn	4:04.20
	3rd, Andy Doering	4:05.17
	5th, Andy Person	4:07.74
	6th, Ryan French	4:08.07
	8th, Brian McQueary	4:09.37
	9th, Matt Judson	4:09.54
	11th, Alan Heincker	4:16.95
3,000-meter run	1st, Matt Helbig	8:50.10
	2nd, Brad Peter 	8:57.85
	8th, Scott Downard 	9:16.90
	11th, Chris Elledge 	9:19.17
	13th, Trey Robinson 	9:26.61
3,000-meter steeplechase	2nd, Pat Boyle 	9:44.10
	3rd, Dan Boyle 	9:50.40
Pole Vault	7th, Aaron Decker	13'-3"
	8th, Jake Kingery	12'-9"
Long Jump	1st, James Walton	23'-4.75"
	2nd, Alfonso Pugh	22'-5.75"
	6th, Jake Kingery	20'-11.75"
Shot Put	6th, Zach Schluender 	44'-5.75"
Discus	17th, Jake Kingery	116'-11"
4x100m Relay	2nd, Walton, Pugh, Walter Washington, Dzingai	42.72
4x800m Relay	1st, Person, Doering, Judson, French	8:14.20

Men's Schedule/Results | Releases | Men's Indoor/Outdoor Track | Truman Athletics