Tartans Defeat Rival Case Western Reserve in Dual Action

(CLEVELAND, Ohio) – The Carnegie Mellon University men's track and field team defeated University Athletic Association foe Case Western Reserve, 69-58, in dual meet action Saturday, February 4 in Cleveland, Ohio.  However, the Tartan women fell on their side of the meet, 95-32, giving Case Western Reserve the higher combined point total (153-101) and claim to the Obelisk Trophy in 2012.

The Tartans won three field events with including a clean sweep in the high jump. Freshman Michael McDermott (Seekonk, Mass./La Salle Academy) won the high jump after clearing 1.80 meters.  Senior Ryan Kissell (Greensburg, Pa./Greater Latrobe) and freshman Elliot Watson (Lebanon, Ohio/Miami Valley School) placed senond and third with jumps of 1.70 meters each.

Sophomore Zachary Erra-Hernandez (Las Cruces, N.M./Onate) won the shot put with a throw of 14.23 meters while sophomore Nathan Cheek (Lancaster, Ohio/Lancaster) won the weight throw with a season-best distance of 15.67 meters.

Freshmen Douglas O'Connell (Rye, N.Y./Fordham Prep) and Thomas Vandenberg (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Mamaroneck) along with sophomore Josh Newby (Palo Alto, Calif./Palo Alto) gave the Tartans their second sweep of the afternoon. In the 800-meter run, O'Connell crossed in 2:03.26 with Vandenberg finishing with a time of 2:04.10 and Newby .56 second behind to round out the top three spots.

Carnegie Mellon had three other top finishes on the day with junior Noel Titus (Bronx, N.Y./Choate Rosemary Hall) winning the 55-meter dash in a time of 6.74.  Senior Rob Morhard's (Eagleville, Pa./Methacton) time of 4:28.77 placed first in the mile and in the 5,000-meter race junior Evan Gates (Pittsburgh, Pa./Thomas Jefferson) crossed first with a time of 15:14.77.

The Tartans will next compete at Bucknell University on Saturday, February 11.