Panther Men to Wrap up Regular Season at Penn Relays
4/27/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
April 27, 2006
PITTSBURGH - The men's track and field team will travel to Philadelphia this weekend for the Penn Relays. The annual competition runs for five days through Saturday and will be the final opportunity for some of the competitors to qualify for postseason action.
Pitt has an impressive two student-athletes ranked in the top 10 nationally. Senior Tony Bonura (Plum, Pa./Canisius College) is fourth in the javelin and first in the conference after breaking a school record earlier this season. The current mark now stands at 71.65 meters. Sophomore Sam Bair (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler Area) has emerged this year as the Panthers' leading middle distance runner. He is ranked seventh nationally in the 1,500 meters and third in a conference known for its dominance in distance events. Both competitors have had multiple NCAA Regional-qualifying performances.
In the pole vault, sophomore Keith Higham (Carlisle, England/Trinity Carlisle) ranks 21st nationally and first in the conference. Higham set a new school record earlier this season with a vault of 5.30 meters, surpassing his previous record of 5.20 meters. Higham is one of two Pitt competitors to qualify for Regionals in each of his competitions.
Sophomore Mike Wray (Philadelphia, Pa./Central) is leading the Big East Conference in the 110-meter hurdles. He was in a similar situation approaching this year's indoor championships and went on to win a conference title. Junior Justin Clickett (Union City, Pa./Union City) is first in the Big East in the shot put, an event that made him an All-American last season.
Senior Corey Kuehner (Palmerton, Pa./Palmerton) is currently 35th nationally in the javelin and second in the Big East Conference. He set a new personal-best mark of 65.12 meters this year and has had several Regional-qualifying performances.