Bechtol Champion as Men's Track and Field Races to Second at IC4As
NEW HAVEN, CT - Freshman Keith Bechtol (Alexandria, VA) won the 10,000m, leading three All-East Tribe performers in the race, as 2004 CAA Champion William and Mary men's track and field competed Friday at the IC4A Outdoor Track and Field Championships. After Friday night's performance, the College sits in second place with 18 points, just six points shy of leader Iona (24). The meet, hosted by Yale, attracts a large field of teams from across the Eastern U. S. and represents the last opportunity for athletes to set NCAA qualification times. Points are awarded to the top-eight finishers in each event, who receive All-East honors.
Bechtol, CAA Champion in the 5,000m, blazed to his second conference title in his rookie campaign by clocking a 29:58.13 for the win in the 10,000m, a personal record. The time was the best run by a U. S. junior (athletes under 20 years of age) this season, further adding to Bechtol's list of accomplishments. Finishing just a few ticks back in third was sophomore Matt Keally (Virginia Beach, VA) who timed a personal-record 30:14.64 for All-East honors. Also claiming All-East accolades was fellow sophomore Jason Schoener (Grand Blanc, MI) who ran a 30:25.95 for seventh. Just missing All-East designation was freshman Adam Tenerowicz (Blackstone, MA) who finished tenth with a career fast pace of 30:39.99, which ranks fourth among times run by U. S. juniors this season. W&M's two other runners in the race both raced to personal bests as junior Patrick Comstock (Portsmouth, VA) set a personal record with his 30:44.16 effort while freshman Steve Hoogland (Springfield, VA) raced to a career best 30:59.99.
The IC4As continue Saturday and Sunday.
IC4A Team Rankings - 4 Events Scored 1) Iona College 24 2) William and Mary 18 3) Cornell University 11 3) Rutgers University 11 5) Manhattan College 10 5) Boston University 10 7) Duke University 9 8) Yale University 8 9) Mount St. Mary's 7 10) St Francis (PA) 6 11) Tufts University 5 11) La Salle 5 11) Dartmouth College 5 11) Monmouth 5 15) Bentley College 4 16) Liberty 3 16) Fairleigh Dickinson 3 16) Princeton 3 16) Columbia 3 20) Providence 2 20) Sacred Heart 2 20) U.S. Military Academy 2