Trojans Narrowly Miss MCC Title
April 25, 2009
It came down to the wire, but the Taylor men's track and field squad fell four points short of the 2009 MCC championship. The Trojans won six events at the two-day affair hosted by TU, and six members were honored as members of the MCC All-Conference squad.
Bethel College won the meet with 166 points, TU was second with 162, and Indiana Wesleyan was just a point back at 161 for third.
TU's sprint power was evident as the Trojans won the 4x100 relay in 42.05 with the quartet of Dave Voss, Scott Gill, Bryan Allingham, and Andy Marston.
Soon after Marston and Allingham claimed a 3-4 finish in the 400 meters with times of 48.67 and 48.85 respectively.
Senior Ian Brown, bouncing back from injury, defended his 2008 title in the 100 in a tight finish with a time of 10.78, an NAIA qualifying time. Teammate Scott Gill finished 4th in 10.91.
Allingham closed out the speed sweep with a 21.73 in the finals of the 200 meter dash, also an NAIA qualifying time and the third fastest in TU history.
Sophomore Isaac Bryan had a stellar day placing 2nd in the 1500 meters with an NAIA qualifying time of 3:56.94, then bouncing back to take 4th in the 800 at 1:57.88. Nate Kirsch's 1:58.85 gave him 6th place.
Cory Anderson cleared the 110 meter hurdles in 15.07 for 2nd place in addition to taking 7th in both the triple and high jump.
Dave Voss was just behind Anderson in the 110s at 15.43 for 4th before nailing down 2nd place in the 400 intermediate hurdles with another NAIA qualifying time of 54.45.
Mark Beckford, who has recovery from a gunshot wound suffered last summer, claimed the triple jump title with a leap of 44' 8" on the last jump of the competition.
Tom Robertson's 9:44.92 in the steeplechase produced a 4th place finish, and Robertson returned to nab 8th in the 5000 meters.
Gill returned to the competition later to place 4th in the high jump. JP Robles placed 5th in the javelin and 6th in the 110 meter hurdles.
The Trojans closed out the competition with a dominating performance in the 4x400 relay as the quartet of Kyle Cassidy, Marston, Voss, and Allingham posted a 3:18.28 for the title.
TU will compete at the NCCAA Championships next week hosted by Indiana Wesleyan.
All-MCC honors went to Brown, Allingham, Gill, Beckford, Voss, and Bryan.