In men's track & field, Edwardsen wins 110 hurdles in record-setting time
NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. - Newcomers took center stage for the Eastern Connecticut State University men's track and field program at the 13th Annual Little East Conference/New England Alliance Championships Saturday.
At right: Brian Lowe
First-year junior transfer Brian Lowe (Kingston, Jamaica) won the Little East Conference and New England Alliance 100 championships and the LEC 200 meter title, freshman Tyler Edwardsen (Ledyard) captured the conference and alliance 110 hurdles in program-record time, and freshman Joshua Fitzpatrick (Beacon Falls) qualified for next month's New England Division III Championships in the long jump and triple jump.
Eastern recorded a fourth-place finish among six LEC teams and was sixth in an 11-team NEA field. The University of Southern Maine won its third straight LEC title since the Warriors won the sixth of six straight crowns, and claimed its second NEA championship in a row since unseating 11-time champ Westfield State College.
Lowe became only the third Eastern male to win both the Little East 100 and 200 events at this meet, joining David Pavia (2006) and Jason Edwards (2002). He was timed in 11.17 in the 100 and 22.60 in the 200. He topped a field of 40 to win the alliance title in the 100 and bested 31 other competitors in taking the LEC 200.
No previous Eastern male prior to Edwardsen had ever won the LEC or NEA 110 hurdles championships. He broke his own program record with a time of 15.43 in the trials, the improved on that with a winning time of 15.27 in the finals. His time qualified him for next month's ECAC Division III and New England Open Championships.
In all, Fitzpatrick earned All-NEA and All-LEC recognition in the triple jump, long jump and pole vault. In the LEC, he was second in the long and triple jump and fourth in the pole vault; in the NEA, he was fourth in the triple jump, tied for sixth in the pole vault, and was eighth in the long jump. Lowe gained All-NEA or All-LEC recognition eight times in the relays, 100, 200 and pole vault.
In addition to Edwardsen and Fitzpatrick, junior Mike D'Elia (Windham) earned a spot in post-season competition when he qualified for the New England Division III Championships in the 400 hurdles. The 4x100 and 4x400 relays also posted season-bests, improving their standings for post-season competition.
Eastern athletes earned All-LEC and/or All-NEA honors a total of 33 times, 29 of them going to first-year performers. Those honors went to the top six individuals and top two relays in LEC scoring and first eight individuals and first three relays in NEA scoring.
Eastern competes at the New England Division III Championships this weekend at Tufts University.
All-New England Alliance (14)
Mike D'Elia 400H 4th
Tyler Edwardsen 4x100 3rd
Tyler Edwardsen 110H 1st
Joshua Fitzpatrick Pole Vault t-6th
Joshua Fitzpatrick Long Jump 8th
Joshua Fitzpatrick Triple Jump 4th
Brian Lowe 4x100 3rd
Brian Lowe 100 1st
Brian Lowe 200 3rd
Brian Lowe Pole Vault 5th
Nicholas Pates 4x100 3rd
Corey Simpson 4x100 3rd
Corey Simpson 100 5th
Corey Simpson 200 8th
All-Little East Conference (19)
Tim Callahan 400 6th
Mike D'Elia 400H 2nd
James DiBeneditto Discus 6th
Tyler Edwardsen 110H 1st
Tyler Edwardsen 4x100 2nd
Joshua Fitzpatrick Triple Jump 2nd
Joshua Fitzpatrick Long Jump 2nd
Joshua Fitzpatrick Pole Vault 4th
Brian Lowe 200 1st
Brian Lowe 100 1st
Brian Lowe 4x100 2nd
Brian Lowe Pole Vault 3rd
Casey McGarvey 800 6th
Nicholas Pates 4x100 2nd
Corey Simpson 100 2nd
Corey Simpson 4x100 2nd
Corey Simpson 200 3rd
Alex Verrill Long Jump t-3rd
Alex Verrill High Jump 6th
