Raiders Compete at NCAA Track and Field Championships, Gund Wins Shot Put Title
Mount Union College had four more Raiders earn All-American status at of the 2008 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field National Championships including senior Dan Gund (Madison) who won the National Title in the men's shot put competion on Saturday, May 24 hosted by UW-Oshkosh in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
Overall, the Mount Union's men's team (27 points) finished in fourth place with only its field competitors.
Gund, the reigning Ohio Athletic Conference Most Oustanding Field Athlete of the Year, won the shot put competition with a throw of 57-2 3/4. He also earned All-American honors in the shot put at the 2008 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships with a fifth place finish. Gund becomes the second consecutive field athelete at Mount Union to win the outdoor shot put title. Last year, Justin Rodhe won the National Title with a throw of 59-3 1/2.
Also in the men's shot put competition was sophomore Judd Lutz (Bloomville/Columbian) who earn All-American status with a third place finish (54-2 1/2). On Thursday, Lutz earned All-American honors with a fourth place finish in the discus. Senior Matt Dawson (Painesville/Riverside) also earned All-American status with an eighth place finish in the shot put. Dawson's top throw was 52-11.
The top eight inviduals earn All-American status.
On the women's side, freshman Annie Patton (Darlington, PA/Blackhawk) became an All-American by placing fifth in the women's javelin with a throw of 140-10. Patton is the reigning OAC Champion in the javelin.
In the three day competition, Mount Union had a total of seven All-Americans.
NCAA Track and Field Championship Site
DAY 2 HIGHLIGHTS
Did not compete
DAY 1 HIGHLIGHTS
Mount Union College had three Raiders earn All-American status after the first day of the 2008 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field National Championships hosted by UW-Oshkosh on Thursday, May 22 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
Mount Union had three competitors finish in the top eight in the men's discus competion to earn All-American honors. Raider sophomore Judd Lutz (Bloomville/Columbian) led the way by placing fourth with a season-best toss of 167-9. Senior Jaime Simpson (Hilliard/Bishop Ready) finished in sixth position with a throw of 163-4, while senior Pat Nicholson (Brookpark/Holy Name) took seventh with a throw of 162-10.
The Purple and White return to action on Day 3 of the Championships on Saturday, May 24 when senior Dan Gund (Madison), senior Matt Dawson (Painesville/Riverside) and Lutz compete in the men's shot put competition. Freshman Annie Patton (Darlington, PA/Blackhawk), the lone Lady Raider qualifier, will compete in the women's Javelin.