ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS -- Select Baldwin Wallace University individual performers competed last night (Friday, May 18, 2012) at the Augustana (Ill.) College Twilight "Last Chance" NCAA Division III National Qualifier. This was the final "last chance" meet for those performers hoping to qualify for the 2012 NCAA Division III National Championship Meet at Claremont-Mud-Scripps College in Claremont, California from May 24-26.
To qualify for NCAA Division III meet, men running events must finish top 16 nationally and men's field events must finish top 20 nationally. On Monday May 22, 2012 the NCAA will officially annouce the field. Right now, it looks like three throwers and the men's 4 x100 relay will qualify, but stay tuned on Monday when we know for sure.
Leading the way at Augustana was junior Zach Marinucci (Brunswick) as he placed third in both the discus (161-feet and 1-inch) and the shot put (52'9.50"). For the season, Marinucci's best marks are 55'3.75" (shot put), 166'7" (discus) and 166'2" (hammer). His shot put currently ranks 10th in Division III and his discus throw ranks 19th.
In addition, junior 2-time NCAA Division III All-American discus thrower Mitch Supan (Medina/ Walsh Jesuit)finished second in the discus (161'3") and fifth in the shot put (52'5.25"). He also placed 14th in the hammer throw (171'5"). For the season, Supan's best marks are 56'3.75" (shot put), 172'8" (discus) and 187'3" (hammer). His shot put ranks him sixth nationally in Division III, his discus throw ranks him 12th and his hammer throw ranks him 14th.
Also in the hammer throw, junior Jake Buckey (Geneva) finished in 17th with a mark of 159'10". For Buckey, his season best throws are 169'10" (hammer) and 172'1" (javelin).
In addition to the throwers qualified for the national meet, BW's men's 4 x 100-meter relay team of senior Mike Smith (Wintersville/ Indian Creek) and sophomores Shawn Cordes (Litchfield/ Medina Buckeye), Kevin Johnson (Garfield Hts./ Cleveland St. Ignatius) and Josiah Holt (Elyria/ Grafton Midview) are ranked 13th nationally with a time of 41.57 seconds.
FOR MORE BW Sports Information, please contact Sports Information Director Kevin Ruple by telephone at 440-826-2327 and e-mail at kruple@bw.edu. or Assistant SID Jeff Miller by phone at 440-826-2780 and email atjefmille@bw.edu Fans can access the latest BW athletics information at www.bw.edu/athletics and we invite you to join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bwyellowjackets and Twitter http://twitter.com/bwathletics.
