TicketsMarch 16, 2013
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CINCINNATI - Redshirt junior Josh Dangel tied the Gettler Stadium pole vault record as the University of Cincinnati track and field team opened the 2013 outdoor campaign by sweeping the Early Bird Relays Saturday. This marks the third consecutive year the men's team has taken home the title and the second consecutive year for the women. The Bearcats won a total of 23 events, 10 by the women and 13 by the men.
Dangel's pole vault height of 17'2.75" was not only good enough for first place, it also tied the stadium record, set by Notre Dame's Kevin Shipper in 2010, and ranks him No. 2 in the nation in the event.
Mackenzie Fields and Alyssa McBride join Dangel in the national top-10 rankings in the pole vault. Coming off her All-American honor, Fields' vault of 13'3.5" ranks her fourth in the nation and won the event. McBride is No. 7 with a vault of 12'9.5", good for second place in Saturday's meet.
The Bearcats also swept the sprint relays, taking first in the men's and women's 100 and 400.
In the men's competition, UC took first place with 171 points, followed by Spring Arbor with 89 points and Cedarville with 75 points. Xavier (Ohio) and Thomas More round out the top-five with 56.50 and 53.50 points, respectively. Northern Kentucky (41), Morehead State (29.50), Georgetown (Ky.) (19), Mount St. Joseph (17.50), Shawnee State (14), Wright State (7), Transylvania (6) and Dayton (5) complete the men's field.
On the women's side, the Bearcats' 145 points took top honors. Wright State scored 92 points, followed by Bowling Green with 79. Xavier's women also placed fourth (75), while Cedarville (73) and Northern Kentucky (71) finished fifth and sixth, respectively. Morehead State (38), Georgetown (Ky.) (18), Thomas More (17), Mount St. Joseph (8) and Shawnee State (5) round out the women's field.
The scoring in the Early Bird Relays differs from other events. In order to earn first-place points, a team has to have the best combined time or mark from two of its own athletes. The next team with the best combined time or mark earns second-place points through the eight scored places.
UC returns to the track March 22-23 as it travels to Tuscaloosa, Ala. for the Alabama Relays and to Orlando, Fla. for the University of Central Florida Invitational.