Kent State To Host The Doug Raymond Invitational
1/30/2004 12:00:00 AM | Track and Field
Doug Raymond Preview: The Doug Raymond Invitational, named after the legendary Kent State track and field coach will take on a special meaning this season as Coach Raymond passed away recently. In conjunction with the meet there will be Memorial dinner in his honor on Saturday, Jan. 31, at 6 p.m. in the KSU Student Center's second floor dining area to benefit the Doug Raymond Track and Field Scholarship Endowment.
Central Collegiates Wrapup: The men took fourth over the weekend with 90 points finishing 3.5 points behind third-place Western Michigan University. The Golden Flashes had one individual winner, one runner-up and four third-place finishers. Host Eastern Michigan University won the meet with 200 pionts.
Akron Roundup: The men defeated Akron 70-69 clinching the victory in the last event with sophomore Dominic Pellitieri's (Amherst, Ohio/Steele) third-place jump in the pole vault. Kent State was led by senior Otis Jordan (Detroit, Mich./Bishop Gallagher), who came away with victories in the 60 meters (6.88) and the 200 meters (22.02).
All He Does Is Win: Junior hurdler Keith Roberts (Bellefontaine, Ohio/Bellfontaine) nabbed his third and fourth 60-meter hurdle titles at the Central Collegiates and against Akron. Roberts ran a season-best time of 8.04 at the Central Collegiates. Dating back to last season, Roberts a NCAA indoor qualifier and MAC 60-meter hurdle champ has won 11 of his last 13 races.
Red Hot Otis Jordan!: Senior Otis Jordan (Detroit, Mich./Bishop Gallagher)turned in a stellar performance at the Central Collegiates finishing third in both the 60 and 200 meters. Jordan's time of 6.73 was good for the second-fastest mark in Kent State indoor history. In addition Jordan missed provisionally qualifying for the NCAA Indoor Championships by .01 of a second. In the 200 meters Jordan crossed the line in 21.58 shaving .28 seconds off his indoor personal best and recording the seventh fastest mark in school history.
It Must Be In The Water: Elyria, Ohio natives freshman Ray Armstrong (Elyria, Ohio/Elyria) and sophomore Mike Inge (Elyria, Ohio/Elyria) continue to rewrite the record books at Kent State. At the Central Collegiates, Armstrong took third in the 800 meters in 1:53.12, good for eighth-best in school history. Coincidently, Inge holds the record which he set at last season's MAC Indoor Championships in 1:50.45. Inge has yet to run in the event this season. However, in the 400 meters Inge took third in 48.55 at the Central Collegiates adding his name to the indoor record books for the fifth time with eighth-best mark in school history.
Flashes Picked to Finish Fourth in Preseason Poll: For the third consecutive year the Golden Flashes were picked fourth in the MAC preseason coaches' poll, released by the league office. The Flashes finished fourth at last year's meet as well.
Central Michigan University was selected to end Eastern Michigan University eight-year reign as champs. EMU has won every MAC Indoor Championship since the league was sponsored by the MAC in 1996.
