Bojang, Kazmierczak Anchor Men's Track at IIAC Indoor Championships
Feb 23, 2016
DUBUQUE, Iowa - Both University of Dubuque track and field teams prep for the Iowa Conference Championships hosted by Buena Vista in Storm Lake, Iowa for the first time since 2010. Both men and women placed third a year ago with school records of 131 points and 98 points, respectively.
IIAC Championships Official Link (Schedule, Heat Sheets, LIVE results and stream)
Men
USTFCCCA Regional ranking: 3rd, Central Region
# of 2016 meets: 6
Best Finish: 2nd of 11, UD Sol Butler Classic (Jan. 16)
2015 IIAC Finish: 3rd, 131 points
All-IIAC returners:
Nicholas Kazmierczak (Champion Pole Vault)
Kebba Bojang (Champion Triple Jump)
Hurshel Ross III – Jamey Foster (4x400m relay)
The Spartans are the highest ranked IIAC team in the Central Region heading into this year's Championships.
Jumps
This is arguably UD’s best discipline with eight Spartans in the Top-9 between high jump, triple jump, and long jump led by freshman Kortez Pickett, who ranks in the IIAC Top-6 in all three. Pickett won his first career high jump competition at the Spartan Invitational last week in a personal best of 6-4.75, good for 6th in the IIAC, and has also leapt 22-2.25 (2nd best) in the long jump and 42-10.25 (5th) in the triple jump (5th).
Senior Kebba Bojang is back to defend his 2015 IIAC Indoor Triple Jump crown and placed second in his most recent meet at the UW-Platteville Invitational on February 13.
Junior Jeremy Lawson is second in the high jump (6-6.75) and freshman Charles Jackson III ranks second in the triple jump (45-10).
Pole vault specialist and winner of 2016’s Cornell’s Hilltop Invitational, junior Nicholas Kazmierczak, looks to defend his 2015 IIAC Pole Vault title. Kazmierczak outdueled his teammate, Tyler Dobratz, to win by nearly half-a-foot for his first career IIAC title.
Throws
Freshman Blaze Murfin leads both the Iowa Conference in both the weight throw (55-9.25) and shot put (51-9) and has set the school record in both. The Dallas City, Ill. native has won the shot put twice this indoor season and leads the field by over three feet. Murfin will have competition in the weight throw from teammates Mario-John Otchere (55-7.5) and Alex Link (54-7.5), who rank 3rd and 4th, respectively.
Sprints
Freshman Najee Toomer, ranked fourth in the 60m (7.12), and freshman Isaiah Ellis, ranked fourth in the 200m (22.87), lead the way.
Mid-Distance/Distance
Sophomore Alec Bass has elevated his running game after breaking the mile (4:17.97), 3000m (8:40.75), and 5000m (15:02.33) in only five races this season. An All-IIAC honor is in store as he ranks second in both the Mile and 5000m and sits third in the 3000m.
IIAC Ranks (Contending UD performers)
**Event – IIAC Rank, Name (Yr., Time/Distance)
60m – 4th Najee Toomer (Fr., 7.12)
6th Marcus Weathers, Jr. (Jr., 7.13) 55 conv.
200m – 4th Isaiah Ellis (Fr., 22.87)
400m – None
800m – None
Mile – 2nd Alec Bass (So., 4:17.97)
3000m – 3rd Alec Bass (So., 8:40.75)
5000m – 2nd Alec Bass (So., 15:02.33)
60H – 9th Clayton Gray (So., 8.64) 55 conv.
4x200m relay – 3rd 1:32.29
4x400m relay – 8th 3:30.61
4x800m relay – None
DMR – 2nd 10:44.64
PV – 2nd Nicholas Kazmierczak (Jr., 14-0.5)
High Jump – 2nd Jeremy Lawson (Jr., 6-6.75)
6th Kortez Pickett (Fr., 6-4.75)
Long Jump – 2nd Kortez Pickett (Fr., 22-2.25)
7th Charles Jackson III (Fr., 21-7.25)
9th Colby Rattenborg (So., 21-6.25)
Triple Jump – 1st Kebba Bojang (Sr., 46-8.25)
2nd Charles Jackson III (Fr., 45-10)
5th Kortez Pickett (Fr., 42-10.25)
Shot Put – 1st Blaze Murfin (Fr., 51-9)
Weight Throw – 1st Blaze Murfin (Fr., 55-9.25)
2nd Mario-John Otchere (Sr., 55-7.5)
4th Alex Link (So., 54-7.5)
Heptathlon - None
