Feb. 13, 2005

Boston, Mass. - Sophomores Brian DeMarco and Mike Bamberger each set school records and qualified for the IC4A Championships in their respective events to lead the Marist men's track and field team at the St. Valentine Invitational this weekend at Boston University.

Bamberger stormed to a 10th-place finish in the 800-meter run in 1:53.65. The time eclipses the previous school record of 1:55.25 set by Chris McCloskey in 2002 at the same meet. DeMarco bettered his own school record in the 500-meter dash, placing seventh in 1:05.12. Both marks earned the first IC4A qualifiers in each event in school history. Last weekend, Bamberger and DeMarco were part of the record-setting 1,600-meter relay team at the Armory Collegiate Invitational, and both were part of the 3,200-meter relay team that participated in the Millrose Games at Madison Square Garden.

Their record-setting runs highlighted a solid meet for the Red Foxes, who saw several athletes notch personal-best performances in a meet that served as a tune-up for Friday's Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championships.

In the long jump, freshman Shaun Kippins placed 12th with a leap of 6.58 meters (21 feet, 6 inches). The personal-best mark was also the best distance in that event in more than 30 years, trailing only school record holder Tim Murphy's 6.78-meter leap in 1973. In the shot put, senior Clayton Berry tossed a personal-best distance of 13.52 meters (44 feet, 4.25 inches).

On the track, senior captain Geoff Decker and freshmen Brandon Cartica and Mike Rolek ran personal-best times in the 3,000-meter run on Friday evening. Decker was timed in 8:43.34, while Cartica ran 8:55.90 and Rolek finished in 8:58.46.

In the 800-meter run, there were several personal-bests: sophomore Chris Baum, 2:00.11, freshman Ted Marak, 2:01.72, freshman Matt Maynes, 2:01.82, freshman Bryan Dixon, 2:03.17 and sophomore Matt Walsh, 2:05.28. In the mile, sophomore Bryan Quinn notched a season-best time of 4:22.71, as did senior captain Sean Hopkins (4:30.09). Season-best performances were also notched in the 200 meters by senior captain Adam Pakiela (23.35), Greg Marks (23.42) and Rob DeAngelo (23.67).

The men's track team returns to action Friday, Feb. 18 at the MAAC Championships, which begin at 5 p.m., at the Armory Track and Field Center in New York City.

Results

55 dash: 25. Rob DeAngelo 6.69, 49. Matt Williams 6.98, 57. Todd Bivona 7.17, 60. Kevin Davie 7.32
55 hurdles: 27. Rob DeAngelo 8.13, 39. Nick Giacomo 8.60
200 dash: 51. Adam Pakiela 23.35, 56. Greg Marks 23.42, 60. Rob DeAngelo 23.67, 64. Matt Williams 24.01, 68. Todd Bivona 24.50
400 dash: 67. Pat Carroll 52.96, 76. Alex Soter 54.40
500 dash: 7. Brian DeMarco 1:05.12 *school record; **IC4A Qualifier
800 run: 10. Mike Bamberger 1:53.65 *school record; **IC4A Qualifier; 59. Chris Baum 2:00.11, 74. Ted Marak 2:01.72, 77. Matt Maynes 2:01.82, 85. Bryan Dixon 2:03.17, 87. Matt Walsh 2:05.28, 95. Pat Taylor 2:10.43
Mile run: 69. Bryan Quinn 4:22.71, 98. Sean Hopkins 4:30.09, 113. Mike Guarascio 4:52.56, 115. Will Colucci 5:02.71
3,000 run: 35. Geoff Decker 8:43.34, 51. Brandon Cartica 8:55.90, 56. Mike Rolek 8:58.46, 67. Matt Syzmaszek 9:13.90, 69. Mike Schab 9:15.55
1,600 relay: 18. Marist 3:23.48; Brian DeMarco 49.8
Distance medley relay: 20. Marist 10:56.45; Chris Baum 4:41.5
Long jump: 12. Shaun Kippins 6.58 meters (21-6)
Triple jump: 20. Shaun Kippins 12.69 meters (41-7.75); 25. Nick Giacomo 11.72 meters (38-5.5)
Shot put: 21. Clayton Berry 13.52 (44-4.25)