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Robert Morris University Athletics

Men's Track and Field

Seven Colonials Earn Gold at Bennie Benson Invite

Moon Township, Pa. - The Robert Morris University men's outdoor track & field team continued its 2012 outdoor campaign Saturday afternoon by hosting the Bennie Benson Memorial Invitational at the RMU Island Sports Center on Neville Island.

Highlighting the meet for the Colonials was junior Charles Thurner-Diaz (Camp Hill, Pa. / Camp Hill), who claimed individual titles in both the discus and hammer throw.

In the shot put, Thurner-Diaz posted a mark of 16.07 meters (52'8.75"), good enough to qualify for the IC4A/ECAC Championships. He also posted a final tally of 49.91 meters (164'9") in the hammer to outlast junior teammate Brendan Morales (Westminster, Md. / Westminster), who finished second in the event with a toss of 49.77 meters (163'3").

Thurner-Diaz was one of seven student-athletes from RMU to earn individual championships at the Bennie Benson Memorial Invitational as well as one of three Colonials to win a pair of events.

Sophomore Chris Carper (Altoona, Pa. / Altoona) won both the 400-meter dash (50.89 seconds) and the 110-meter hurdles (15.25 seconds), while sophomore Abraham Roy (Middletown, Pa. / Middletown Area) won both the 100-meter (11.32) and 200-meter (22.72) dashes.

In the 3,000-meter, freshman Tip Worob (Denton, Md. / North Caroline) earned gold with a time of 8:53.34, while sophomore Shane Witmyer (West Lawn, Pa. / Wilson) won the long jump with a leap of 7.08 meters (23'2.75").

Also earning an individual championship in the jumps was junior Lance Washington (East Stroudsburg, Pa. / Stroudsburg), who posted a mark of 13.87 meters (45'6.25") in the triple jump to win the event over freshman teammate Richard Njenga (Ephrata, Pa. / Ephrata), who finished second at 13.41 meters (44'0").

Joining Thurner-Diaz with an individual title in the throws was junior Robert Saltsgiver (Hermitage, Pa. / Hickory). In the discus, Saltsgiver posted a throw of 45.34 meters (148'9"), foiling Thurner-Diaz's attempt at the hat trick, as he finished second in the event with a toss of 43.42 meters (142'5").

Robert Morris returns to action Saturday, April 21, by taking part in the James Madison Scored Meet in Harrisonburg, Va., one of two more meets on the regular-season docket before the 2012 Northeast Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships in May.

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