Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
Friday, April 22
Auburn, Ala.
Middle Tennessee
at
Auburn Invitational
Photo by: Gregory Ruff
Raiders ready for Auburn
4/21/2016 11:22:00 AM | Track & Field/Cross Country
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Follow a top performance in the NCAA and two Middle Tennessee records being broken, the Blue Raider track & field teams are headed to the Auburn Invitational Friday and Saturday.
Event: Auburn Invitational
Date: Friday, April 22 - Saturday, April 23
Site: Auburn, Ala.
Friday Start Times: 2 p.m. (Field) | 7:15 p.m. (Track)
Saturday Start Times: 10:30 p.m. (Field) | Noon (Track)
Rutto Recognized
Eliud Rutto, who raced to a second place finish in the 800 meter at the Mt. SAC Relays against some of the world's best, was named Conference USA Male Track Athlete of the Week.
The Eldoret, Kenya native notched the second best time in the NCAA, finishing in a season-best 1:45.59. Rutto was only beat by 2012 Olympic runner Duane Solomon, who finished fourth in the 800 meters at the 2012 games.
Rutto did beat Nike and USA Olympic runner Lopez Lomong, Hoka One One runner David Torrence and Asics runner Ryan Martin.
Matelong, Laari Set New MT Standards
At the Mt. SAC Relays, Shadrack Matelong and Sampson Laari each broke a Middle Tennessee outdoor record in back-to-back days.
On Thursday night, Matleong broke the 30-year old 3,000-meter steeplechase record, setting the new standard in 9:03.49. The previous time was set in 1986 by Danny Green.
Laari competed in the 5,000 meter Friday night and finished in 14:02.22, breaking the time he set at the Raleigh Relays earlier this season (14:16.14).
Ampomah's Streak
John Ampomah, a 2015 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field First-Team All-American, launched his second-best javelin throw of the season at the APSU Invitational, placing fourth with a distance of 77.25 meters (253-5).
Ampomah earned his fourth consecutive first place finish to start the 2016 outdoor season and currently has the third-best distance in the NCAA.
In his two-years at Middle Tennessee, Ampomah has won the in 11 of the 14 meets he has competed in, which include the 2015 NCAA East Regional and the Conference USA Outdoor Championships.
In The Rankings
The Blue Raider men's team vaulted two spots to No. 20 in the United States Track & Field/Cross Country Coaches Associate Computer Team Rankings.
From the current 2016 season, MT is receiving projected points from Sampson Laari (800m), Jacob Patten (High Jump), Phillip Smith (Triple Jump) and Atsu Nymadi (Decathlon).
From the pre-season data that is compiled for the rankings, Rutto (800m), Vincent Okot (Triple Jump and Ampomah (javelin) are also contributing points.
Event: Auburn Invitational
Date: Friday, April 22 - Saturday, April 23
Site: Auburn, Ala.
Friday Start Times: 2 p.m. (Field) | 7:15 p.m. (Track)
Saturday Start Times: 10:30 p.m. (Field) | Noon (Track)
Rutto Recognized
Eliud Rutto, who raced to a second place finish in the 800 meter at the Mt. SAC Relays against some of the world's best, was named Conference USA Male Track Athlete of the Week.
The Eldoret, Kenya native notched the second best time in the NCAA, finishing in a season-best 1:45.59. Rutto was only beat by 2012 Olympic runner Duane Solomon, who finished fourth in the 800 meters at the 2012 games.
Rutto did beat Nike and USA Olympic runner Lopez Lomong, Hoka One One runner David Torrence and Asics runner Ryan Martin.
Matelong, Laari Set New MT Standards
At the Mt. SAC Relays, Shadrack Matelong and Sampson Laari each broke a Middle Tennessee outdoor record in back-to-back days.
On Thursday night, Matleong broke the 30-year old 3,000-meter steeplechase record, setting the new standard in 9:03.49. The previous time was set in 1986 by Danny Green.
Laari competed in the 5,000 meter Friday night and finished in 14:02.22, breaking the time he set at the Raleigh Relays earlier this season (14:16.14).
Ampomah's Streak
John Ampomah, a 2015 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field First-Team All-American, launched his second-best javelin throw of the season at the APSU Invitational, placing fourth with a distance of 77.25 meters (253-5).
Ampomah earned his fourth consecutive first place finish to start the 2016 outdoor season and currently has the third-best distance in the NCAA.
In his two-years at Middle Tennessee, Ampomah has won the in 11 of the 14 meets he has competed in, which include the 2015 NCAA East Regional and the Conference USA Outdoor Championships.
In The Rankings
The Blue Raider men's team vaulted two spots to No. 20 in the United States Track & Field/Cross Country Coaches Associate Computer Team Rankings.
From the current 2016 season, MT is receiving projected points from Sampson Laari (800m), Jacob Patten (High Jump), Phillip Smith (Triple Jump) and Atsu Nymadi (Decathlon).
From the pre-season data that is compiled for the rankings, Rutto (800m), Vincent Okot (Triple Jump and Ampomah (javelin) are also contributing points.
Players Mentioned
XC/Dist.
/ Track & Field/Cross CountryXC/Dist.
/ Track & Field/Cross Country
Jumps
/ Track & Field/Cross CountryXC/Dist.
/ Track & Field/Cross CountryJumps
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