April 7, 2008

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - This weekend, the Kennesaw State men's track & field team participated in the 64th Annual Pepsi Florida Relays. The two day event, at the Percy Beard Track Complex, featured many of the nation's top collegiate and professional track athletes. The Owls were well represented as they set several school records and had sophomore Jerome McKinzie claim first place in the high jump.

Competing in a field of over 30 opponents, McKinzie won his third straight high jump contest of the outdoor season. Posting a height of 6-10.75ft, the sophomore entered the last round of competition error free. With no one able to jump the final height of 7-01.25ft McKinzie secured himself the victory. His outstanding performance tied his personal best and earned him his second NCAA Regional qualifying mark of the season.

"This is the biggest meet that Jerome has ever won," said field coach Mike Goss. "He even beat last year's champion, Michael Kursteiner from the University of South Florida. This victory proves that he has reached a new level in his abilities. He can jump 6-10.75ft with complete confidence and no problems. All we have to do now is focus on that seven foot mark. I know once he hits that he is going to be unstoppable."

In hurdling events, senior Devin Jones came one step closer to making his first NCAA Regional qualifying mark as he set a new KSU record in the 110m hurdles. Coming in third in his heat, Jones sprinted to the finish line to complete the race with a time of 14.38. The North Clayton High School graduate shaved a tenth of a second off his previous best time as he finished in 21st place overall in a field that included David Oliver, the fastest 110m hurdler in the world. Jones later returned to the track to compete in 400m hurdles where he finished in 19th place with a time of 54.16.

"This is how we get better," said sprint coach Devin West. "The Florida Relays is one of the most competitive meets to be held every year. Devin was racing against strong talent and he responded perfectly. He is very close to making that NCAA mark of 14.30."

In mid-distance events, the Owls were represented by freshman Gianni Catalano. The Atlantic Sun Indoor 800m Conference Champion led throughout the race as he won his heat with a time of 1:54.14. Catalano's second best time in the 800m dash this season earned him 26th place overall. Also competing in mid-distance events, Matteo DiCecco completed the 1500m race with a time of 4:09.51 for 23rd place.

"Gianni just wasn't in a fast enough heat," said head coach and middle distance specialist Don McGarey. "Last week, at the Alabama Relays he ran 1:53. If he had been in one of the faster heats, I'm confident that he could have gone much faster."

Competing in the distance medley, KSU's "B" team of DiCecco, Michael Guntner, Matthew Auers and Brett Luna placed third with a time of 10:42.55. Also in relay events, the 4x100m team of Jones, Antonio Logan, Joshua James and James Verdi turned in a season high time of 42.61 for a 22nd place finish.

Racing in the 3k steeplechase, sophomore Nathan Haskins set a personal best time of 9:32.54 for an eighth place finish. Teammate Scott Burley followed in 13th place as he crossed the finish line with a time of 10:08.07.

In throwing events, sophomore Joshua McNair set a new record for the Black & Gold in the shot put. McNair took seventh place in the event with a toss of 52-04.50ft, while teammate Casey Strickland placed 13th (45-09.75ft). In the "B" section of the shot put veteran Aymerick Kolokilagi came in eighth place with a season high throw of 47-01.0ft. Meanwhile, in the "B" section of the discus freshman Eric Gill claimed third place with a throw of 144-08.0ft.

Thunderstorms caused the early cancelation of the Florida Relays, preventing the 4x400m team from competing and stopping runners Michael Johnson, Steven Murray and Maxwell Ndungu from running the 5k.

The Owls will be back in action next weekend as they participate in the Seminole Track Invite in Tallahassee, Fla.

Florida Relays
Individual Results

High Jump
1. Jerome McKinzie 6-10.75ft

Shot Put "A" Section
7. Joshua McNair 52-04.50ft
13. Casey Strickland 45-09.75ft

Shot Put "B" Section
8. Aymerick Kolokilagi 47-01.0ft

Discus "b" Section
3. Eric Gill 144-08.0ft

3k Steeplechase
8. Nathan Haskins 9:32.54
13. Scott Burley 10:08.07

Distance Medley
3. KSU 10:42.55

4x100m Relay
22. KSU 42.61

800m Dash
26. Gianni Catalano 1:54.14

1500m
23. Matteo DiCecco 4:09.51

400m Hurdles
19. Devin Jones 54.16

110m Hurdles
21. Devin Jones 14.38