VANCOUVER - A small but talented group of nine UBC Thunderbirds men are in Marion, Indiana for the 62nd annual NAIA Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships. The meet runs May 23-25 on the on the campus of Indiana Wesleyan University.
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Andy White (North Vancouver, BC) headlines the men's javelin competition coming in with the top throw this year in the NAIA at 68.56 metres. White was fourth at nationals in 2010 and sixth in 2011 but will be looking for a medal this time around.
Ivan Staeheli (Abbotsford, BC) is ranked No. 4 in the NAIA in the men's decathlon with 6705 points. He is a veteran to the national meet having competed at them in 2009 and 2010.
On the track, Lucas Bruchet (White Rock, BC) is the No. 2-ranked 5000m runner in the NAIA with his personal best time of 13:54.39, which was recorded at the Mt. SAC Relays, and the No. 1 seed in the 5000m. However, Bruchet should face tough competition from John Gilbertson of The Master's College. Gilbertson has run 13:58 this season and is the reigning NAIA cross-country champion.
Joining Bruchet in the 5000m run will be second-year runner
William Cliff (Vancouver, BC), he'll be making his first appearance at the NAIA track and field championships. Bruchet will be doubling up in the 1500m alongside fellow Thunderbirds
Tim Huebsch (Ottawa, ON) and
Jack Williams (Surrey, BC). Huebsch competed last year at nationals in the 1500m, while Williams was a member of the UBC 4x800m relay team in 2012.
The men's 4x800m relay squad will consist of Williams, Huebsch,
David Slade (Delta, BC), and
Devin Rajala (North Vancouver, BC). The foursome come into NAIA's with the No. 3-ranked time in the NAIA at 7:41.57. They'll be looking to qualify for the finals and dip under seven minutes and forty seconds.
Slade will be making his second showing on the national stage in the men's 800m run and will be looking to advance beyond the heats.
Making his nationals debut will be second-year
Jake Bruchet (White Rock, BC) in the men's 3000m steeplechase. Bruchet holds a personal best time of 9:25.44 from the WWU Twilight meet in Bellingham.
UBC MEN'S COMPETITION SCHEDULE (all times Eastern)
Thursday, May 23, 2013
10 a.m. – decathlon (Ivan)
3:40 p.m. – 1500m M (Tim, Jack, Luc)
6:15 p.m. – 4x800m M (Devin, Tim, Jack, Dave) Luc alt.
6:30 p.m. – javelin (Andy)
7:10 p.m. – 3000m s/c (Jake)
Friday May 24, 2013
9:30 a.m. – decathlon – (Ivan)
2:20 p.m. – 800m M (Dave)
5:50 p.m. – 4x800m M (Dave, Devin, Tim, Jack) Jake alt.
7:00 p.m. – 5000m M (Luc, Will)
Saturday May 25, 2013
2:20 p.m. - 3000m s/c M (Jake)
3:10 p.m. – 1500m M (Tim, Jack, Luc)
5:00 p.m. – 800m M (Dave)
5:55 p.m. – 5000m M (Luc, Will)
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