University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
NCAA East Preliminary Championship
Eight Huskies Headed to NCAA Prelims
5/21/2019 10:07:00 AM | Men's Track and Field
STORRS, Conn. – The UConn men's track & field team will send seven student-athletes to this weekend NCAA East Preliminary meet being held at the University of North Florida.
"This weekend is all about survive and move on," stated head coach Greg Roy. "Twelve guys from each region will move on to Austin, Texas and right now we have seven guys qualified in to this weekend's prleims. We are still waiting to hear on Tyler Gleen and if he will be able go in the 800 meters."
The three-day meet will get underway on Thursday afternoon at Hodges Stadium at UNF, where the Huskies opened their spring outdoor schedule at the UNF Invite. Live results will be provided by the NCAA and fans can watch all the action on FloTrack.org.
On Thursday, senior co-captain Ian Bergere (Madison, Conn.) and sophomore Tyler Gleen (Shelton, Conn.) are in action in the pole vault and the 800 meters. Gleen, who suffered an injury a few weeks back before the Larry Ellis Invitational and is questionable to compete this weekend. He comes into the competition seeded 15th in the 800 having posted his top time of 1:48.79 at the Florida Relays.
"Look at a kid like Ian Bergere who was a walk-on, works his way to becoming a captain, and gets himself here to a regional," commented Roy. "Ian has had a fantastic season and for him, you've got nothing to lose, playing with house money. Bergere has had a breakout senior campaign with the highlight coming at the American Athletic Conference Championship two weeks ago when he took home the gold with a career-best performance. Bergere topped the field with a height of 5.11 meters (16'9.25") and enters the weekend seeded 32nd. During the indoor and outdoor seasons, the senior won six times and had 11 top-three finishes.
On Friday, senior co-captain Michael McGonnigle (New Fairfield, Conn.) will run in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and sophomore Todd Stueber (Toms River, N.J.) is set to throw the discus. On Saturday, the meet wraps up with UConn r-junior Kyle Brackman (Berkeley, N.J.) running the 5,000 meters, sophomore Matthew Brady (Biddeford, Maine) throwing the shotput, senior co-captain Malik Snead (Trenton, N.J.) competing in the triple jump and sophomore Safir Scott (Greenwich, Conn.) competing in the high jump.
"Same type of stories with Michael (McGonnigle) and Kyle (Brackman). Starting as walk-ons and have worked hard for everything and have earned this. In the distance events, how big is your kick. Two thirds, you keep that pedestrian pace, and then you have to kick in at put the hammer down at the end. And both McGonnigle and Brackman have shown this year they can do just that."
McGonnigle qualified with his blazing finish at the Penn Relays where he posted a new PR with a time of 8:59.12. He took home a bronze medal in the event at the AAC Championship two-weeks ago. Brackman had his top-time of the season back at the Florida Relays, clocking a 14:06.92, a new personal best. He is coming off a big showing at the AAC meet where he took fourth in the 5,000 meters and a silver medal in the 10,000 meters in career-best time (30:28.16).
The duo of Stueber and Brady have been consistent all spring and qualifying for the NCAA prelims are huge steps in their development. "I feel really good about Todd Stueber getting in there after the season he has put together and r-freshman Matt Brady getting to this weekend in his first year is a huge development," said Roy.
Stueber had his best throw of the spring and career at the Larry Ellis Invitational where he posted a 52.15 meter (171'1") throw. Stueber scored points for the Huskies in both the discus (5th) and shotput (7th) at last week's AAC Championship. Brady qualified for this weekend thanks to personal best throw at the UConn Northeast Challenge, a 17.51 meters (57'5.5") throw that gave him a second place finish.
In the jumps, Scott is looking for a return trip to the NCAA Championship after qualifying last spring as a freshman. Scott had his top-height of the spring at the site of this weekend's event, clearing 2.12 meters (6'11.5") at the UNF Invitational, a personal best height. Scott grabbed the bronze in the event at last weekend's AAC Championship. In the triple jump, Scott enters the weekend seeded 14th in the field, posting his top-leap of the season at last week's AAC Championship, finishing second thanks to a jump of 15.89 meters (52'1.75")
"Safir (Scott) really wants to get back (NCAA Championship) after he was there as freshman," stated Roy. "He brings a level of experience coming in and knows what it takes. I expect him to have a great performance this weekend. And Malik is right there, has had a tremendous season and should be right in the mix for one of those 12 spots. "
Players Mentioned
