University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Columbia Challenge
Columbia Challenge Serves as a Great Tune-Up for the Huskies
1/26/2019 8:29:00 PM | Men's Track and Field
NEW YORK, N.Y. – The UConn Huskies used their weekend at the Armory in New York City as a chance to put in their final preparations for next weekend's New England Championship. In a deep and competitive field at the Columbia Challenge, the Huskies claimed nine top-10 finishes including a win in the 800 meters from sophomore Tyler Gleen (Shelton, Conn.)
As a team, the Huskies took ninth of 17 teams in the field with BYU winning the men's title. "Points were hard to come by, and we had some guys with near misses here and there," commented head coach Greg Roy. "From one perspective it was really great for our younger guys to see what it takes to compete in a meet like this, with this level of competition."
"We had some good performances, Tyler (Gleen) in the 800 that is a big win," stated Roy. "It was a get ready for New England's weekend for us with really good competition. We got a lot out of it, good experienced gained at a really high level. This was a big meet for us to get through to the New England Championships next week."
Gleen ran the 800 meters for the first time this season and just missed setting a new personal best while winning the event. Gleen took the top spot by clocking in at 1:50.49. His previous best time came at last season's BU opener when he posted a 1:50.30. Freshman Joseph Pearl (Manchester, Conn.) ran in ninth place and did post a season-best time of 1:53.50.
Senior Michael McGonnigle (New Fairfield, Conn.) set a new personal best in the 3000 meters and ran the fastest time in the event in the American this season so far. McGonnigle took eighth overall with a time of 8:09.53, smashing his previous best time of 8:15.77 set at last season's IC4A Indoor Championship.
In the mile, senior Kyle Barber (Fayetteville, N.Y.) ran the event for the first time this indoor season and came up with a time of 4:09.40, the fastest time by a Husky this season and the second fastest in the league thus far this season. Barber was fifth overall in the field.
The team of Wellington Ventura (Cresskill, N.J.), Kyle Trocki (Shrewsbury, Mass.), Noah Woodman (Hampstead, N.H.) with Gleen anchoring took sixth in the 4x400 relay, clocking in at 3:16.42.
In the weight throw, junior Cameron Thompson (Cortlandt Manor, N.Y.) was eighth overall with a toss of 17.50 meters. In the long jump, senior Malik Snead (Trenton, N.J.) was eighth, competing for the first time this season. He posted a jump of 6.99 meters.
Sophomore Daniel Claxton (Nesconset, N.Y.) tied for sixth in the high jump, clearing a height of 2.04 meters. Senior Ian Bergere (Madison, Conn.) scored in the pole vault with a height of 4.80 meters, good for eighth place.
The Huskies will prepare for next weekend's annual New England Championship, and event they have won 22 times. This year's championship meet takes place at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston on February 1 and 2
Players Mentioned
