Pitt
Western PA Championship
Panther Men Take Third at Western PA Championships
4/2/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
April 2, 2006
PITTSBURGH - The Panthers returned to the city for this weekend's Western PA Championships, hosted by Carnegie Mellon University. Despite winning several event titles, Pitt finished in third with 120 points. Robert Morris won the competition with 165.50 points.
With two finalists in the 100 meters, Pitt had two sprinters in the top five. Freshman Sam Perkins (Kent, Ohio/Kent Roosevelt) finished fourth with a personal-best time of 11.41. Senior Chris Anderson (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) finished fifth with a time of 11.41.
Perkins also ran well in the 200 meters, placing second with a time of 22.73. In the 400 meters, junior Kareem Cousar (Pittsburgh, Pa./Pittsburgh Central Catholic) placed third with a time of 50.34.
Pitt's Sam Bair (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler Area) set a new meet record in the 800 meters, taking first with a time of 1:52.83. His time was also a Gesling Stadium record. Sophomore Tim Konoval (Parry Sound, Ontario/Central Connecticut State) placed second with a time of 1:53.93.
In the 1,500 meters, junior Eric Fleming (West Chester, Pa./Bishop Shanahan) finished third with a time of 4:02.92. And in the 5,000 meters, junior Mike Long (Williamsville, N.Y./Williamsville North) place fourth with a time of 15:21.64.
Pitt had two finalists in the 110-meter hurdles. Sophomore Mike Wray (Philadelphia, Pa./Central) finished first with a time of 14.82, and senior Jeff Kiss (Windber, Pa./Windber) placed fifth with a time of 16.32.
In the 400-meter hurdles, sophomore Brian Woods (Loudonville, N.Y./Shaker) tied the meet record and captured first place with a time of 55.28. Kiss took sixth with a time of 58.46.
Pitt's success on the track carried over to the field events as well. Sophomore A.J. Kielinski (Plymouth Meeting, Pa./Kennedy-Kenrick Catholic) set a new meet record in the hammer throw with a mark of 51.40 meters for first place. Kielinski held the previous record at 48.39 meters, set in 2005. He also placed second in the discus with a throw of 44.36 meters.
In the javelin, Pitt's Tony Bonura (Plum, Pa./Canisius College) placed third with an NCAA regional qualifying mark of 62.62 meters. This is Bonura's second qualifying performance this season. Senior Corey Kuehner (Palmerton, Pa./Palmerton) finished fourth with a mark of 61.46 meters.
Pitt's 1,600-meter relay team took third with a time of 3:21.56. The relay team was comprised of Anderson, Cousar, Perkins and Troy Roberson (Warminster, Pa./William Tennent). The men's 3,200-meter relay also placed third with a time of 8:03.96. Pitt's relay team consisted of Will Grinstead (Hornell, N.Y./Hornell), Kevin Gilpatrick (Upper Darby, Pa./Upper Darby), Kiss and James Stratton (Lancaster, Pa./Conestoga Valley).
The Panther's next competition will be the Texas Relays, held April 5-8. The team has two regional qualifiers after two competitions this season and hopes to battle for the conference title in May.
