The Bowdoin Orient

February 9, 2001
Volume CXXXII, Number 15

Men's track topples Conn College and Coast Guard

by ALEX MOORE, STAFF WRITER

   Men's Indoor Track team added to their winning record at a three-college meet in New London, Connecticut, where they defeated both Coast Guard Academy and Connecticut College.
   Despite a four-and-one-half hour drive on the morning of the meet, the Bowdoin men were at their best. "I was pleased that we handled a long road trip like a group of veterans. We didn't sulk or complain; we prepared and executed," said Captain Steve Allison '01. The team may have competed like hardened veterans, but the majority of the point scorers were freshmen and sophomores.
   James Wilkins '04 won the high jump event, clearing 6'04.75'', while Dan Abraham '04 finished a close second in the long jump with a leap of 19'11.75''. Abraham also won the 55m high hurdles, followed by second-place finisher, Jesse Cargill '03. The swift sophomore sprinters, Jeff Manganaro and Chris Davidson, finished first and second in the 55m dash.
   The middle distance events were dominated by the Polar Bears. Rob Mandle '02 and Phil Webster '04 took the first two spots in the 600m, both running times of 1:26, while Byron Boots '03 won the 800m. Perhaps the most dominating victory of the day, was Bowdoin's one-two-three finish in the 1000m by Allison, Matt Mellen '02, and Dave "Mad Dog" Wall '02. The 1000m race marked an impressive comeback by Mad Dog, who had not run a race in 18 months due to a hip injury, suffered during his freshman year.
   The distance runners came through as usual, with a one-two finish in the 1500m by Allison and Dan Gulotta '03. Pat Vardaro '03 finished second in the 3000m.
   One of the most important and anticipated meets of the season is this Saturday's State Meet, at Bates College. At last year's State Meet, the Bowdoin men came through with wave after wave of season best performances on the track from the 55m through the 5K to pull off a terrific upset over the odds-on favorite Bates College. "Last year we went into the State Meet as the underdog, but we believed in ourselves and came out victorious. This year, we are favored slightly, but we'll approach the meet with the same focus, and hopefully, we can create the same result," said Allison.
   "This will be another close State Meet; we beat Colby, as did Bates...I hope our depth will be the deciding factor," said Coach Peter Slovenski.
   The jumping events look to be decisive for the Polar Bear effort. "The jumps have narrow margins of tolerance for takeoffs and narrow margins of victory on distances. Our jumpers have a lot of poise and I think they enjoy clutch situations. They've been the key to our success through the regular season, and we'll get a chance to see how they perform in a championship setting," said Coach Slovenski.

Aaron Donohoe sprints towards the sand pit. (Colin LeCroy/The Bowdoin Orient)