Wednesday, April 21, 2010

MACON, Ga. – Senior sprinter Duronal Monal stood as one of four ETSU athletes to win gold at the Charlotte Invitational, earning Atlantic Sun Track Athlete of the Week accolades for his performance, while fellow Buccaneer Matt Baum notched field honors after the thrower set a program record Saturday.

In the 100m, Monal sprinted his way to the top in the 27-man field after clocking in with a personal best time of 10.27. That time ranks the Belle Glade, Fla. native 10th in the country and seventh in the region. Despite cramping up in the 200m, Monal also posted his fastest time this season, finishing second with a mark of 20.95.

Baum etched his name into Buccaneer record book this past weekend by competing in the javelin at the Charlotte Invitational. The junior from Middleton, Md. set a new ETSU record after letting one soar 190-10 (53.98m), marking the best throw from any collegiate competitor in the field.

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The Atlantic Sun Conference is an 11-member league committed to Building Winners for Life. The A-Sun stands for achievement with integrity in both the academic and athletic arenas, with a focus on the balance between the two for our student-athletes. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun boasts six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun includes a blend of the most prestigious and dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, Campbell University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Mercer University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University.

Other Top Performers
Joe Frye, Belmont (Jr. - Throws - Roscommon, Mich. - Music Business) – At this past weekend's Vanderbilt Invitational, Frye finished in the top five in four different events. The junior thrower won the hammer throw with a mark of 55.98m, finished second in both the discus (41.76m) and shot put (15.78) and finished fifth in the javelin (43.62). Frye’s throw in the shot put stands as the third longest in the conference this season.

Harold Sims, Campbell (Sr. - Hurdles - Oxford, N.C. - Biological Science) – Sims won the men's 400-meter hurdles for the second consecutive week, winning the event at the Charlotte Invitational with a time of 52.07. The Oxford, N.C. native also took the win at last weekend's UNC Invitational with a season-best time of 51.70. That mark still stands as the fastest in the A-Sun so far this season. Sims also took fourth in the men's 110-meter hurdles with a time of 14.68, a season best for the senior. That time ranks fifth in the A-Sun. Sims also guided the Campbell 4x400 meter relay team to a second place finish with a mark of 3:19.59 along with teammates Adoniss Jones, Denzel Jones and Kelvonto Cooper. The time ranks third in the conference.

Jake Bridges, Kennesaw State (Fr. - Pole Vault - Dalton, Ga. - Undeclared) – Bridges broke Kennesaw State’s outdoor record in the pole vault, clearing 4.75 meters (15'7") to break teammate Adam Reed's record of 4.55m. The Dalton, Ga. native’s leap earned him a second place finish in the Auburn War Eagle Invitational.

Gianni Catalano, Kennesaw State (Jr. - Middle Distance - Amherst, Ohio - Undeclared) – Catelano broke his own outdoor school record in the 800 meters at the Auburn War Eagle Invitational this past weekend. The Amherst, Ohio native’s time of 1:50.73 surpassed his time of 1:51.41 from last season and earned him a first-place finish in the event. Catalano’s performance also ranks him 43rd on the NCAA East Region list in the event as of this week.

Justin Crawford, USC Upstate (Jr. - Pole Vault - Elgin, S.C. - Nursing) – At the Charlotte Invitational, Crawford finished in second place. The Elgin, S.C., native cleared a height of 15-01.00 (4.60m), just short of his school-record of 15-03.00 at the Duke Invitational. Crawford owns the second-best mark in the conference during the outdoor season.