Gauthier, Bobcats dominate throwing events at MIT meet
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Noah Gauthier ’08 |
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Rich McNeil ’10 |
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Mark Liu ’10 |
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Bates senior Noah Gauthier (Amherst, N.H.) took first place in the 35-pound weight throw with the best throw in Division III this year, leading the Bates men’s track and field team to a strong 2008 indoor season debut in a tri-meet at MIT with Colby. MIT scored 211 points as a team, followed by Bates with 90 and Colby with 42.
Gauthier threw 59’7.5″ in the weight throw, a provisional NCAA Championships qualifying mark. The two-time All-America thrower also came in third in the shot put with a throw of 47’5.75″, qualifying him for the New England Division III and ECAC Division III Championships.
Other highlights for Bates included a pair of other throwers. Sophomore Rich McNeil (Lawrence, Mass.) won the shot put with a lifetime best of 49’1″, which qualified him for the Open New England Championships, ECACs and New England Division IIIs. McNeil was runner-up to Gauthier in the weight at 53’3″, qualifying him for for Open New Englands, ECACs and New Englands as well. And sophomore Mark Liu (Lexington, Mass.) came in third in the weight throw with a New Englands-qualifying mark of 47’5.25″.
First-year Ryan Quinn (Watertown, Mass.) had three New England Division III Championship-qualifying performances in his college debut, finishing third at the meet in all three events: the 55-meter dash (6.71 seconds), the 200 (23.32) and the long jump (20’7.75″).
First-year Joseph Musso (Wallingford, Conn.) also had an outstanding first collegiate meet, finishing third in the 1,000 with a personal-record time of 2:41.63.
Bates will send some athletes to the Terrier Classic at Boston University on Jan. 25, then will host a dual meet with Colby on Jan. 26.