Troy University Athletics
Men's Track Places Second at First Sun Belt Championship
5/15/2006 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field
LAFAYETTE, La. -- Troy made an impact in its first-ever Sun Belt Conference Championship Sunday night when it eeked out Arkansas State by a slim 1½ points, 104.50-103, for second place. Middle Tennessee ran away with the competition with 162 points for second place.
The Trojans had been projected fifth by the league coaches in a pre-meet poll last week.
"We won seven Atlantic Sun Conference titles and none of them compare to this weekend," said Director of Track and Men's Head Coach Bob Lambert. "Everyone who went to Lafayette left everything out there. The guys made a statement after a lot of people doubted them."
Senior Mike Acree was named Outstanding Field Performer after scoring double victories in the triple jump (50-feet, 2½ inches) and the long jump 24-feet, 5 3/4 inches). In addition, Acree ran the second leg on the Trojans' 4x100 relay team that finished third overall in an NCAA Regional-qualifying time of 40.55 seconds. Acree's teammates on the relay team included freshmen Keaton Anderson and Lamar Hicks and senior Louis Harris.
"Mike is one of the most amazing athletes I have ever coached," Lambert continued. "He hasn't done the triple jump all year, but we needed the points. To go from fourth to first on the last jump was incredible."
Harris also had a strong championship as he took third place in the 200 meter dash (21.30) and fourth in the 100 meters (10.61).
Junior Michael Heck came through with a breakout performance when he heaved the shot put 55-feet, 11¾-inches”, exceeding the NCAA Regional Qualifying Standard of 55-4. The distance was good enough to edge pre-meet favorite Isaiah Rucker of Arkansas State by more than two feet, and exceed his previous best throw by 22 inches.
Matt VanZandt won the decathlon title with 6,826 points, while also finishing fifth in the pole vault and 10th in the javelin. Brandon Hughes placed third in the 1500-meter run and sixth in the 5000 meters. Norman Austin finished second in the javelin with a throw of 186 feet-11 inches.
In addition to Acree's honor, Austin (javelin), Hughes (1500 meters) and the 4x100 team of Anderson, Acree, Harris and Hicks were named All-Sun Belt All Conference.
The Trojans will take six male athletes to the NCAA Regional Championships in Knoxville on May 26-27. Both 4 x 100 relay teams will compete as well as individual competitors including Acree (long jump & triple jump), Harris (200 meters) and Heck (shot put). The top five from the Regionals in each event will continue to Sacramento on June 8-10 to compete in the NCAA National Championships.
