Michigan State University
Springtime Invitational
Spartans Collect Two Qualifying Marks At Springtime Invitational
3/24/2007 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
March 24, 2007
AUBURN, Ala. - Mark Langlois and Melinda Buckmaster started the outdoor season with a bang, as they posted NCAA Regional-qualifying marks and first-place finishes in the pole vault and the javelin, respectively, at the Springtime Invitational in Auburn, Ala., on Saturday afternoon.
"It was a great accomplishment for Mark (Langlois) and Melinda (Buckmaster) to come out to the first outdoor meet of the season and get qualifying marks," assistant coach Chris Campbell said. "Mark's tremendous indoor season has carried over to the outdoor season and this is a great start for Melinda."
Langlois won the pole vault with a height of 5.05 meters (16-6 ¾) and was half an inch off his personal-best height of 5.06 meters (16-7 ¼). Buckmaster won the javelin with a distance of 45.45 meters (149-1), leading the second-place finisher by 1.65 meters (5-5).
Also bringing in a first-place finish was junior Jim Pancoast in the 1500-meter race. Pancoast finished the race in 3:53.23 and was just seconds off the Regional-qualifying time of 3:47.80. Junior David Bills nabbed second place in the same race with a time of 3:53.64.
Rounding out the men's side was freshman Ian Boyle, who grabbed sixth place (1:50.53) in his first 800-meter run as a collegian. Senior Phil Marlatt came in right behind Boyle in seventh place with a time of 1:51.21.
The Spartan women were very successful in the field events.
Freshman Katie Shaw showed great potential in the pole vault. Shaw finished in third place, clearing 3.70 meters (12-1 ½). The freshman missed the qualifying mark by .10 meters (4 inches).
Senior Taren James had two fifth-place finishes in the long jump and triple jump with a distance of 5.88 meters (19-3 ½) in the long jump and a 12.22 meter (40-1 ¼) mark in the triple jump.
The Spartans return to action on Friday, March 30 for the two-day Stanford Invitational, held in Palo Alto, Calif.
Players Mentioned
