March 1, 2008
MADISON, Wisc.: March 1, 2008 - Sophomore Ryan Taylor (Spanish Town, Jamaica) used a personal-best effort to finish third in the long jump, Saturday at the Big Ten Men's Indoor Track and Field Championships at Camp Randall Sports Center. Totaling 11 points, the Nittany Lion men are in seventh place going into the final day of competition. Taylor's career-best leap of 24-2.50 (7.38m) was good for a bronze medal finish in his first-ever Big Ten Championship appearance.
Also adding points towards the Lion total was freshman Blake Eaton (Allegeny, N.Y.), who also posted a career best to finish seventh in the shot put. Eaton, who was also competing in the first conference meet of his young career, posted a toss of 57-3.50 (17.46m) to finish seventh in a loaded shot competition. Nittany Lions Owen Dawson (Coatesville, Pa.), Mike Cadau (Mahanoy City, Pa.), Cody Edling (North Wales, Pa.), and Tim Johnson (New Cumberland, Pa.) added a sixth place finish in the distance medley relay, running 10:02.43.
Giving the Lions a boost going into to Sunday were Cadau, Mark Miller (Shillington, Pa.), Samuel Borchers (Yellow Springs, Ohio), Ron Jules (Tom's River, N.J.), and Adam Stanowick (Solon, Ohio), who all advanced to tomorrow's final rounds in their respective events.
Jules led the way with a season-best and provisional-qualifying 7.90 in the 60-meter hurdles, with teammate Stanowick also advancing with a career-low 8.12. Jules and Stanowick were the second and sixth fastest qualifiers in the semi-final round.
Miller was the third-fastest qualifier through to the 800-meter final with a preliminary mark of 1:53.45, while Cadau claimed a lane in the 600-meter final with a qualifying time of 1:20.61. Borchers also advanced, running 4:11.12 in the opening round of the mile.
Also in good position going into Sunday are Chris Morrisey (Ligonier, Pa.) and Shawn Colligan (Bradford, Pa.), who are in fourth, and seventh, respectively, following four events of the heptathlon.
Action picks back up at 10:20 p.m. CST tomorrow morning. Follow the action at www.uwbadgers.com, and check back for a complete recap at the conclusion of the meet at www.GoPSUsports.com.