Moon Township, Pa. - The Robert Morris University men's indoor track & field team continued its 2010-11 campaign by taking part in a pair of meets this past weekend, including the Penn State National Invitational in University Park, Pa., and the GaREAT Complex, hosted by Lake Erie College.
For the Colonials, sophomores Ben Ingle (Tyrone, Pa. / Tyrone) and Steve Mitchell (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Pittsburgh Central Catholic) each established new school records and qualified for the IC4A/ECAC Championships.
Ingle established his second school record of the 2010-11 indoor season by placing second in the 1,000-meter run at the PSU National Invite with a time of 2:28.47 to qualify for the IC4A/ECAC Championships. The old school mark of 2:30.15 came in 2008 and was held by former Colonial Phillips Thompson.
In the shot put, Mitchell posted a toss of 15.93 meters (52'3.75") to claim the individual championship and qualify for the IC4A/ ECAC Championships. His throw in the event helped him better the old school record of 51'6.50" that was held by Jared Wasser.
Also joining Mitchell in qualifying for the IC4A/ECAC Championships in the shot put were sophomores Brendan Morales (Westminster, Md. / Westminster) and Collin Ray (Middletown, Pa. / Middletown Area). Morales finished with a toss of 15.70 meters to finish third in the event, while Ray finished fourth with a top throw of 15.60 meters.
Mitchell also qualified for the IC4A/ECAC Championships in the weight throw at the GaREAT Complex by finishing third individually with a toss of 17.43 meters (57'2.25").
Freshman Nicolas Gentile (Sarver, Pa. / Freeport) joined a growing list of Colonials to qualify for the IC4A/ECAC Championships by placing eighth in the 500-meter dash at the PSU National Invite with a time of 1:04.59.
Gentile also ran the 1,200-meter leg of RMU's distance medley relay team that finished third with a time of 10:09.15 to also qualify for the IC4A/ECAC Championships. Joining Gentile were senior Charles Gladman (Philadelphia, Pa. / Cardinal Dougherty), freshman Dorian Rumble (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Penn Hills) and Ingle.
Gentile posted a time in the 3:05.00 in the 1,200-meter, Gladman finished in 48.1 seconds in the 400-meter dash, Rumble posted a time of 1:55.10 in the 800-meter and Ingle anchored the group with a time of 4:20.00 in the 1,600-meter.
Gladman, who already qualified for the IC4A/ECAC Championships in the 200-meter dash, bettered his time on the season in the event at the PSU National Invitational by finishing eighth (21.98 seconds).
Robert Morris has its final tuneup for the 2011 Northeast Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships by taking part in the Marietta Alumni Meet Friday, Feb. 4, in Marietta, Ohio.
