Riverdale, N.Y. (July 18, 2007)- The Manhattan College Track and Field program has been producing prodigious hammer throwers for years, winning championships at every level of competition. That tradition added several new accomplishments recently, as former Jaspers showed their mettle at several championship meets.
Manhattan College Hammer Throw record holder Jake Freeman '04 took home the gold medal at the inaugural North, Central American and Caribbean Championships (NACAC) held at the Flor Blanca National Stadium in San Salvador, El Salvador July 13-15. The two-time NCAA National Champion won the event on his first throw of the competition, recording a mark of 70.32 meters (230'8”), to easily outdistance the rest of the field. In fact, all three of Freeman's legal throws were further than the silver medalist throw. Mexico's Luis Saavedra received second place honors with a throw of 62.62 meters (205'5”).
The United States dominated the medal count at the NACAC Senior Championships, taking home 43 medals (including 28 gold), well ahead of Mexico (20 medals, four gold), Trinidad & Tobago (11 medals, three gold), and the rest of the 26 nation field.
CLICK HERE For Full NACAC Championship Results
Meanwhile, back in the states, several Manhattan alums were competing in the USATF National Club Track and Field Championships, held the same weekend at Icahn Stadium in New York. Jasper fans (and certainly the Jasper athletic staff) will recall that Icahn Stadium was also the site of the 2005 NCAA East Regional Championships, with Manhattan College serving as the host institution.
With the familiar stadium serving as a backdrop, Jasper green was also well represented in the hammer circle. Former three-time NCAA All-American and Irish National Champion Paddy McGrath '95 earned gold with a throw of 64.58 meters (211'10”). McGrath was in familiar company on the awards stand, as recently graduated Zoran Locar '07 took home a fourth place finish with a throw of 59.07 meters (193'9”).
McGrath represented his club team's (New York Athletic Club) only points (10 points ? tie-18th place in team competition), while Loncar's fourth place finish proved important in his team's (Shore AC) team championship. Shore AC won the title by just six points (153 total points).
Manhattan Track and Field was also represented in the women's portion of the championship, as Alian Pompey '00 won gold in the 400 meter dash with a time of 51.61 seconds, a time that broke the five year of meet record. The former NCAA National Champion and Olympian for her native Guyana also competed in the 200 meter dash, placing second with a time of 23.35. Her performances helped Shore AC to the Women's Team Championship.
CLICK HERE For Full USATF National Club Championship Results
