blank image Home blank image Site Map blank image Contact Us blank image Search blank image blank image   blank image
Garnet to Cream Gradient Graphic
blank image
About Bates blank image Admissions blank image Academics blank image Campus life blank image Maine/World blank image Alumni life
blank image
blank image
blank image

Latest News


McNeil places fifth in hammer throw at NCAAs
5/23/2008

Rich McNeil '10 becomes the 12th NCAA All-American from Bates in the men's hammer throw. (Photo by Joe Gromelski)

OSHKOSH, Wis. -- Bates College sophomore Rich McNeil (Lawrence, Mass.) finished fifth in the men's hammer throw Friday at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships, while senior teammate Noah Gauthier (Amherst, N.H.) placed 14th in the final performance of his decorated career.

McNeil was the only underclassman to qualify for the finals, with a top preliminary round throw of 173-3, which ranked seventh. In the finals, after two competitors had passed him in earlier throws, McNeil's penultimate throw traveled 180-9, moving him into fifth place, where he stayed.

McNeil earns the first All-America honors of his young career, becoming the 26th Bates man to win All-America honors in outdoor track and field, and the 12th to do so in the hammer throw.

Gauthier, seeded No. 2 in the event and yesterday named the New England Region Men's Field Athlete of the Year for the second straight time, mustered a top throw of 163-9, about 30 feet short of his career best. Gauthier finishes his career as a three-time All-American and the 2008 NCAA indoor champion in the 35-pound weight throw.

With McNeil's four points, Bates finished in a seven-way tie for 59th place among 81 scoring teams at the meet, along with Ramapo, Methodist, Lehman, Frostburg State and Earlham.

COMPLETE MEET RESULTS

 

2008 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships
Web site