On a picture perfect day at the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut, the Bowdoin Men's Outdoor Track and Field Team, with 43 points, placed third among talented Springfield (78), Coast Guard (58), and Worcestor Polytechnic Institute (WPI) (24). It was difficult to place in the meet, as only the top-four finishers scored.
However, several Bowdoin athletes found success on the bank of the Connecticut River after a Day's Inn night's sleep and Dunkin' Donuts breakfast. After last week's cancellation at the University of New Hampshire, the Polar Bears were more than ready to compete.
Notable performances in the sprints include sophomore Damon Hall-Jones's third-place finish in both the 100- (11.14s) and 200- (22.85s) meter dashes. In the 400, the junior tandem of Lamont White (51.57s) and Brendan Egan (51.60s) placed third and fourth, respectively.
In middle distance action, Tim Katlic '08 placed fourth in the 1500m in 4:07.62s. Another junior pair, Tyler Londsdale (15:42) and John Hall (15:55), placed second and fourth in the 5K. Bowdoin's biggest point production came from its hurdlers. In the 100m hurdles, senior captain Joe Adu, after hitting the first hurdle and falling to last place, overcame the pack and crossed the line in second (15.78s). Sophomore Mike Krohn ran a personal record, finishing close behind Adu in third (16.05s). In the excruciatingly painful 400 hurdles, sophomore Ike Irby placed second in 58.05s. The hurdles appear to be a promising event for Bowdoin, as Irby's time tied Adu's personal record.
In the only race appearing more painful than the 400 hurdles, a first-year tandem met success in the steeplechase. In Thompson Ogilvie's first time running the race, he won the event, wasting the competition with a time of 9:54. Colman Hatton followed with a remarkable finish, coming from behind to beat a Springfield runner by only four-hundredths of a second to capture fourth place.
In the 4x100, a Tim Fuderich '10 to White to Eric Lee '08 to Hall-Jones resulted in a Bowdoin second in 43.62s.
"The hand-offs were smooth, everyone ran strong, and our anchor Damon ran a great leg to bring us neck and neck with the leader," said Fuderich.
Egan and Adu joined White and Lee in the 4x400 to finish in 3:25, also good for second place.
"I was particularly impressed with the 4x400 relay team," said Head Coach Peter Slovenski. "For Brendan, Eric, Joe, and Lamont to run a 3:25 this early was terrific."
In the field events, Fuderich claimed first place in the long jump with a leap of 6.37m. For perspective in standard measurement, that is approximately the height of two basketball hoops and three small rabbits. Colin Hay '08 placed third in the triple jump, bounding just over the 40-foot mark. Luke Fairbanks '09 threw the shot put 14 meters, taking third. First-year Ben Weimont finished third in the javelin, launching it a distance of 52.17m.
The story of the day came from senior pole vaulter Robey Clark. He finished fourth (3.89m), but in quite an unconventional fashion. With the bar at 13'6", Clark's step was slightly off, and he had already bent the pole by the time he took off. The recoil shot the pole out of his hands, and the pole itself cleared the bar.
"Too bad I wasn't along for the ride," Clark noted.
On the way up, the pole took off part of Clark's elbow, and he was transported to the hospital for stitches.
Overall, Bowdoin was very pleased with its performance.
"The newcomers were really impressive," said Adu. "Weimont (javelin) and Ogilvie (steeple) competed well to spearhead a string of admirable first-year performances."
"It was good to get on an outdoor track after practicing most of the time on an indoor track," said Slovenski. "I think the team did well for an early season meet."
The sunburnt Polar Bears returned to snowy Maine ready to prepare to break Bates's four-year streak as Maine state champions this weekend in Lewiston.