PUEBLO, Colo. (courtesy of @CUYellowJackets) - Cedarville University sent James Blackwell, Matt Brooker, and Greg Hannay to compete in the NCAA Division II Men's Outdoor Track & Field Championship, which took place this past weekend at the DeRose ThunderBowl on the campus of Colorado State University-Pueblo.
This is the second NCAA Championship appearance for both Blackwell and Brooker this season. Blackwell qualified for the indoor heptathlon while Brooker led the men’s cross country team to the national meet in the fall.
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NOTE: With Alderson-Broaddus and Kentucky Wesleyan entering into the G-MAC as active members, the conference will now feature Indoor and Outdoor Men's and Women's Track and Field as a conference championship sport. With the addition of these four championships, the G-MAC will host 17 championships in 2013-14.
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On opening day, which was the Yellow Jackets first-ever appearance at the NCAA Division II Men's Outdoor Track & Field Championship, the G-MAC's Cross Country Champion Brooker finished by placing 16th in the 10,000 meter run. He covered the 25 laps on the 200 meter track in 32:22.27. There were 20 competitors entered in the race.
On the same day, Blackwell stood in 15th place midway through the decathlon with 3,277 points. His best performance was in the long jump with a leap of 6.40 meters (21-0). He finished 15th in the final standings of the men's javelin at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championship.
Blackwell ended up with 6,241 points in the two-day competition. That total rates eighth on Cedarville's all-time list. The final day of the decathlon included the 110 meter hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin, and 1,500 meters. Blackwell's best event was the pole vault in which he tied for third place by clearing 4.50 meters (14-9).
The performance wrapped up an outstanding track & field season for Blackwell. He placed 12th in the NCAA Division II Indoors heptathlon and he was the NCCAA champion in both the heptathlon and decathlon.
Hannay brought Cedarville University's track & field season to a close by placing 19th in the javelin. He posted a heave of 51.11 meters. That computes to 167-feet 8-inches.
2013 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championship