Central Michigan University Athletics
Central Michigan University
MAC Championships
Men's Track Grabs MAC Crown
5/17/2003 12:00:00 AM | MTF
May 17, 2003
Results | Photo Gallery | 2003 MAC Track and Field Championships Page
MOUNT PLEASANT - The string of five straight Mid-American Conference outdoor championships by Eastern Michigan was put to an end this afternoon by the Central Michigan University men's track and field squad.
In front of the hometown fans at Lyle Bennett Track, the Chippewas put together a three-day effort that earned them their first ever MAC championship.
"I can't even explain how great this is," said head coach Jim Knapp, who was named the men's coach of the year after the meet.
"It is so special to win it in Mount Pleasant. There were about 45-50 former athletes on hand to witness this and that makes it even more special."
CMU held a slim lead after day one and two but exploded on third day to win by 20 3/4 points. The Chippewas finished the event with 158 points followed by Eastern Michigan (137.25) and Kent State (116.5).
Although the Chippewas only came away with two individual victories, CMU built a large lead by having multiple athletes score in almost every event.
"We work all year trying to reach our peak and perform our best at this meet," said Knapp. "It shows that it paid off by our 13 personal bests that we got over the weekend.
"I am just incredibly proud of these young men. The conference meet is extremely tought to win. It is three days of gruling competition and I am very happy we came out on top."
Pat Walderzak grabbed the top spot in the hammer throw on Thursday afternoon and Mike Sidlauskas won the discus throw this afternoon with a regional-qualifying mark of 169-2.
Top five finishers for the Chippewas were: in second place - Soji Jibowu in the 400m (46.81), Ian Searcy in the 800m (1:49.94), Steve Wolf in both the high jump (7-1) and the triple jump (47-9); in third place - Derold Sligh in the 400m (46.95), Ron Miller in the 1500m (3:46.8), Tristen Perlberg in the 5000m (14:29.71); in fourth place - Jibowu in the 200m (21.25), Walderzak in the discus (160-8); and in fifth place - Nick Stout in the 110m hurdles (14.77), and Mike Marsh in the discus (160-8).
Wolf led the team in total points scored. He tabbed 24 points throughout the three-day competition.
CMU also took the MAC crown in the cross country season and finished second at the indoor meet.
This is the sixth MAC championship for a Chippewa athletic team during the 2002-2003 school year. Joining the cross country and outdoor track teams were field hockey, wrestling, men's basketball, and gymnastics.
