Blazer Men Place Fifth at CAC Championships

FREDERICKSBURG, Va.--The Hood College track & field team posted 10 school records and 23 personal records at the Capital Athletic Conference championships Saturday.

Freshman Chris DiGangi reached his season goal of winning the conference title in the pole vault. DiGangi cleared 14' 1.75" to tie his school record. He took two solid shots at the conference meet record of 14' 7," narrowly missing.

DiGangi entered the competition at 13.' He cleared it on the first attempt, then cleared 13' 6" and 14' 1.75 all on the first attempts.

"Chris becomes the first men's CAC champion for us," said head coach Brent Ayer. "It is well-earned. Chris has solid work habits and nice technique. I think he has the potential to clear 15' this spring."

The Hood men finished fifth in the competition won by Salisbury University.

The Blazers' 4 x 400 relay team of senior Tomilayo Komolafe, sophomore Ola Komolafe, junior David McDuffie and junior Blair Ames finished third.

Senior thrower Matt Haynes set a new school record on 155' 10" in the javelin in picking up fourth place and also finished sixth in the hammer. Ola Komolafe was the next highest finisher for the Blazers, taking fourth in the 400 meters. Justin Everett picked up a pair of sixth-place finishes in the long jump and triple jump. William Andrews recorded a fifth place finish in the steeplechase. The 4 x 100 Relay team finished sixth.

David Andren lengthened his school record in the shot. Personal bests were recorded by Mike Richter (200 and 400 meters), David McDuffie (400 hurdles), Nick Manning (steeplechase), Conor Prachar (long jump and triple jump), Jeff Lipinski (discus) and David Frazier (100 meters).

"Hood College had a club level program for two years and a varsity level program for just over two years. The seniors who participated this year are the athletes who founded this program," Ayer observed. "Tomilayo Komolafe, Matt Haynes and Nick Manning have made important contributions in growing and building the program. I can't imagine any program this young is coming along any faster."