BOSTON, MASS. – UMBC junior Amanda Deller (Aberdeen, Md./Aberdeen) was named
the meet's Most Outstanding Field Performer and freshman Mercedes Jackson (Huntington, Md./Huntington) was
named the Most Outstanding Rookie as the UMBC women's track and
field team finished third with 106.50 points at the 2012 America
East Indoor Championships at Boston University. Boston
U. claimed the top women's honor tallying 164 points, just ahead of
last year's champion, Albany (159.50).
Junior Trae
Proctor (Brandywine, Md./Thomas Stone) successfully
defended his title in the 60m hurdles to lead the men's team to a
fifth place finish. Albany defended its crown in the
overall meet standings, garnering 187.50 points.
Competing in her first conference meet, Jackson broke her school
record, and set a new facility record, winning the 60m dash in
7.49. The freshman also broke the UMBC record in the
200m, picking up a silver medal with a time of 24.00.
One day after winning the weight throw, Deller swept the meet's
throwing events by taking the gold in the shot put on
Saturday. The junior won top honors with a toss of
14.00m (45'11.25").
The 4x400 women's relay continued the record breaking day by
setting a new standard in UMBC history. Sophomores Kirsten Jones (Brentwood, Tenn./M.L.K Magnet)
and Deborah Adelola (Lanham, Md./Bladensburg)
in addition to freshman Paulette Fogle (Washington, D.C./Bishop McNamara)
and Kalane' Abbey (Laurel, Md./Laurel) combined for a time
of 3:48.54 to claim bronze in the event.
Sophomore Cody Mezebish (Westminster, Md./South Carroll)
sustained her strong form, running a personal-best 2:14.95 to jump
to second place in the school record book and place fifth in the
800m.
For the men, Proctor led the way for the Retrievers, winning the
60m hurdles for the second consecutive year. The junior once
again beat the field, finishing just off his school record pace in
a time of 8.08.
Meanwhile, sophomore John
Rybak (Baltimore, Md./Archbishop Curley) put in a strong
effort, placing fifth (8.38) in the event. His time
lands him tenth on the school's all-time list.
Freshman Malte
Bertram (Einbeck, Germany/Goethschule Gymnasium) claimed
silver in the heptathlon in his first ever conference
championships. Bertram's overall score of 4,907 moves
his name up to third in UMBC history.
In the mid-distance runs, senior Josh Hewitson (New
Market, Md./Linganore) picked up a silver medal in the 500m with a
time of 1:03.72.
UMBC picked up three top-10 finishes in the 800m with
sophomore Andrew
Smith (Chadds Ford, Pa./Garnet Valley) taking fourth
(1:52.90), freshman Charles Bolinger (Bowie, Md.) placing
eighth (1:54.87) and senior Pat Hairfield (Abington,
Md./Archbishop Curley) (1:54.90) taking ninth. All three
runners qualify for the IC4A meet with their performances.
The Retrievers now head home to begin preparation for the IC4A
and ECAC meets. The regional meets will be held in
Boston from Mar.3-Mar. 4.
