Lehigh University Athletics
Friday, December 6
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Fast Times Before Finals
Lehigh completes Fast Times meet as Adesida sets new school record
12/7/2013 7:04:00 PM | Men's Track and Field
Results | VIDEO: Adesida's record-setting jump
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh men's track and field team began its season with impressive performances in the Fast Times Before Finals meet on Friday and Saturday in Rauch Fieldhouse. The Mountain Hawks' season-opening meet was highlighted by junior Adeolu Adesida setting a new Lehigh record in the high jump.
"It was great for our kids to get back out there and compete and I'm pleased with the performances and efforts," said head coach Matt Utesch. "Obviously Lou's jump was very impressive and it shows how much more he'll be able to accomplish this season. He's really something special."
Adesida set the new record with a 2.18 meter leap, which also automatically qualifies him for the IC4A Championships in March. The junior's impressive jump broke the record of 2.14m that was set in 2004 by Vaclav Malek.
"It felt great to get back into competition and it's just an added bonus that I was able to set a new record," said Adesida. "My goal is to make it into the indoor national championships, which is only a few runners from across the country, and I think this was a very good first step."
Sophomore Derek Knott, a wide receiver on Lehigh's football team, impressed in his first track meet as the top Lehigh finisher in the long jump with a 6.45m leap that was good for fourth place. Junior Julian Copeland finished right behind Knott in fifth with a 6.38m jump.
Knott was also Lehigh's top finisher in the 60m dash, finishing the run in 7.08 seconds to claim second place.
"I'm very pleased with Derek's performances," said Utesh. "He is coming off a football season that he was injured in and it was great to see how poised and driven he was with just a week of practice. I see a lot of potential with him."
Junior Christopher Watson grabbed a victory in the 500m dash, finishing first with a time of 1:06.47. Freshman James Clements impressed in his first collegiate race to take ninth place with a time of 1:08.16, while junior Justin Mahoney (1:08.79) and senior Martin Otieno (1:08.84) placed 11th and 12th, respectively.
Otieno was Lehigh's top finisher in the 200m dash, coming in second place with a time of 23:20. Mahoney (23.39) followed it fifth place, while freshman Andrew Benitio (23.49) finished eighth out of the 31 runners.
Junior Mitchell Biler was Lehigh's top finisher in the 1000m run, taking fourth place with a time of 2:35.94. Biler was followed closely by freshman Seamus Cullinane (2:38.46) in fifth and junior Gregory Caldwell (2:41.53) in sixth.
Otieno, Mahoney and Watson were joined by senior John Caivardelli in the 4x400m relay. The group claimed fourth place with a time of 3:31.07.
Biler was joined by Cullinane, junior Sebastian Nicewicz and sophomore Caleb Grady in the 4x800m relay. The Mountain Hawk group claimed second place with a time of 8:27.82.
Lehigh claimed spots four through six in the triple jump, with sophomore Cody Israel leading the way with a mark of 12.98m.
Junior Benjamin Beauchamp placed fourth in the weight throw with a 15.40m toss, while sophomore John Whitman placed fourth in the pole vault with a mark of 4.30m.
The Mountain Hawks will now have a lengthy break for final exams and the holidays. Lehigh returns to action on Jan. 11 at the Army 5-way in West Point, N.Y.
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh men's track and field team began its season with impressive performances in the Fast Times Before Finals meet on Friday and Saturday in Rauch Fieldhouse. The Mountain Hawks' season-opening meet was highlighted by junior Adeolu Adesida setting a new Lehigh record in the high jump.
"It was great for our kids to get back out there and compete and I'm pleased with the performances and efforts," said head coach Matt Utesch. "Obviously Lou's jump was very impressive and it shows how much more he'll be able to accomplish this season. He's really something special."
Adesida set the new record with a 2.18 meter leap, which also automatically qualifies him for the IC4A Championships in March. The junior's impressive jump broke the record of 2.14m that was set in 2004 by Vaclav Malek.
"It felt great to get back into competition and it's just an added bonus that I was able to set a new record," said Adesida. "My goal is to make it into the indoor national championships, which is only a few runners from across the country, and I think this was a very good first step."
Sophomore Derek Knott, a wide receiver on Lehigh's football team, impressed in his first track meet as the top Lehigh finisher in the long jump with a 6.45m leap that was good for fourth place. Junior Julian Copeland finished right behind Knott in fifth with a 6.38m jump.
Knott was also Lehigh's top finisher in the 60m dash, finishing the run in 7.08 seconds to claim second place.
"I'm very pleased with Derek's performances," said Utesh. "He is coming off a football season that he was injured in and it was great to see how poised and driven he was with just a week of practice. I see a lot of potential with him."
Junior Christopher Watson grabbed a victory in the 500m dash, finishing first with a time of 1:06.47. Freshman James Clements impressed in his first collegiate race to take ninth place with a time of 1:08.16, while junior Justin Mahoney (1:08.79) and senior Martin Otieno (1:08.84) placed 11th and 12th, respectively.
Otieno was Lehigh's top finisher in the 200m dash, coming in second place with a time of 23:20. Mahoney (23.39) followed it fifth place, while freshman Andrew Benitio (23.49) finished eighth out of the 31 runners.
Junior Mitchell Biler was Lehigh's top finisher in the 1000m run, taking fourth place with a time of 2:35.94. Biler was followed closely by freshman Seamus Cullinane (2:38.46) in fifth and junior Gregory Caldwell (2:41.53) in sixth.
Otieno, Mahoney and Watson were joined by senior John Caivardelli in the 4x400m relay. The group claimed fourth place with a time of 3:31.07.
Biler was joined by Cullinane, junior Sebastian Nicewicz and sophomore Caleb Grady in the 4x800m relay. The Mountain Hawk group claimed second place with a time of 8:27.82.
Lehigh claimed spots four through six in the triple jump, with sophomore Cody Israel leading the way with a mark of 12.98m.
Junior Benjamin Beauchamp placed fourth in the weight throw with a 15.40m toss, while sophomore John Whitman placed fourth in the pole vault with a mark of 4.30m.
The Mountain Hawks will now have a lengthy break for final exams and the holidays. Lehigh returns to action on Jan. 11 at the Army 5-way in West Point, N.Y.
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