Big leap forward
Track places surprise second in MIAA championships
Jamie Arthur/Collegio
Issue date: 5/8/08 Section: Sports
The Gorillas knew they were entering last weekend's MIAA outdoor track and field championships as the underdog.
With neither the men or women favored to win a conference title, it appeared that both squads had significant ground to make up before the meet had even begun.
But the challenge seemed only to be a source of motivation for the two teams. Following two days of tough competition at Herschel Neill Track in Maryville, Mo., the Pittsburg State men emerged on Sunday with a second-place finish behind a heavily favored Central Missouri team.
Despite what head coach Russ Jewett called a "championship effort," the PSU women, who have been battling injury and illness all season, were forced to settle for fifth place.
"We came out of the first day with a little anxiety because we weren't where we needed to be and we were an underdog to start with, so we really had to bring everything we had on Sunday," Jewett said of the men's squad
And that's exactly what the Gorillas did.
Following Saturday's opening events, PSU, tied with Fort Hays for second place, trailed Central Missouri by just 18 points. However, despite the Gorillas' best efforts, Central Missouri was able to hold on through the second day of competition to win its 11th conference title in 13 years with 174.5 points.
The Gorillas finished with 135.5 points, as senior Jeremy Dunkle and sophomore MJ Hassaballa captured individual titles in the 110-meter hurdles and 1,500-meter run.
"We were up against it and our kids really responded to a challenge," Jewett said.
Dunkle recorded a personal best time in the 110m hurdles, crossing the finish line in 14.25 seconds just ahead of teammate Jeremy Jackson.
Hassaballa also set a new personal best time with his win in the 1,500m, finishing in 3:52.08.
"I knew it wasn't going to be a walk in the park," Hassaballa said. "I knew I would have to work to win it."
Jewett said it was performances like those by Dunkle and Hassaballa that really set the tone for the conference meet.
With neither the men or women favored to win a conference title, it appeared that both squads had significant ground to make up before the meet had even begun.
But the challenge seemed only to be a source of motivation for the two teams. Following two days of tough competition at Herschel Neill Track in Maryville, Mo., the Pittsburg State men emerged on Sunday with a second-place finish behind a heavily favored Central Missouri team.
Despite what head coach Russ Jewett called a "championship effort," the PSU women, who have been battling injury and illness all season, were forced to settle for fifth place.
"We came out of the first day with a little anxiety because we weren't where we needed to be and we were an underdog to start with, so we really had to bring everything we had on Sunday," Jewett said of the men's squad
And that's exactly what the Gorillas did.
Following Saturday's opening events, PSU, tied with Fort Hays for second place, trailed Central Missouri by just 18 points. However, despite the Gorillas' best efforts, Central Missouri was able to hold on through the second day of competition to win its 11th conference title in 13 years with 174.5 points.
The Gorillas finished with 135.5 points, as senior Jeremy Dunkle and sophomore MJ Hassaballa captured individual titles in the 110-meter hurdles and 1,500-meter run.
"We were up against it and our kids really responded to a challenge," Jewett said.
Dunkle recorded a personal best time in the 110m hurdles, crossing the finish line in 14.25 seconds just ahead of teammate Jeremy Jackson.
Hassaballa also set a new personal best time with his win in the 1,500m, finishing in 3:52.08.
"I knew it wasn't going to be a walk in the park," Hassaballa said. "I knew I would have to work to win it."
Jewett said it was performances like those by Dunkle and Hassaballa that really set the tone for the conference meet.
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