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For the past several years Southern Connecticut State University has had arguably the best division II track and field program in their conference. This past weekend both Men and Women won the outdoor track Northeast-10 conference.
For the men, this is their seventh win in a row, and they have no sign of slowing down. This year's meet was held at Jess Dow Field, the home track to the Owls. With this conference meet being at home, the Owls showed out as they won the meet by blowing out the competition. The men scored 286.5 points through 22 events.
SCSU was widely represented in most events, leading the meet after the first day of events. The next day they continued where they left off and crowned multiple conference champions. Junior hurdler, Osaretin Osagie won the 110 hurdles with a season and personal best of 14.03.
This was a meet record and could be good enough for DII nationals. Osagie’s win also scored 10 points for the Owls. The men also showed out in the 100 meters, having sophomore Nolan Freeman place second overall and scoring 8 points. Freeman ran a time of 10.55 and ranked 57th in the DII ranking.
Freeman is also part of the young sprinting core that Southern recruited in the class of 2022. Freeman also competed in the 200 and scored 8 points as well. Rounding off his busy weekend, he had a leg on the 4x100 and 4x400 meter relay.
SCSU always had success in sprinting events. However, what makes this team so great is the utility of their athletes. Athletes can put in multiple events and have success. This is how the Owls managed to stay at the top of the conference for so long.
They also put multiple people in the same event. Which builds a winning culture, When these athletes train together it makes it easier to meet. This is why the Owls locked up the 800-meter final, going one, two, and, three to secure points for the team.
Redshirt freshman, Jeremy Rivera, true freshman Jack Mulcunry, and, sophomore Marquis Whyte, executed their plan beautifully as they wanted to take the top three spots in this event. Rivera came through the line at 1:52.06, following him was Mulcunry at 1:53.13, and rounding out the podium was Whyte with a time of 1:54.80.
With everything going well on the track, the Owls take control over the field events as well. A great throwing core for both men and women. 2022 national Champion, Jordan Davis locked up Javelin.
Davis has been having a great outdoor season, Davis holds the NCAA Division II record of 80.36 meters, which he broke at the Texas Relays in March. Unsurprisingly, he would take home the gold at the conference.
The Hammer Throw and Shot put was also won by The Owls. Bernardo Mbaya, a senior, won the gold in the hammer throw and came back to grab second overall in the shot put. Taking the gold in the shot was his teammate, Cameron Belton, a junior.
As the Men get the job done every year, it seems to be a set standard. A winning culture was set by the older generation. The coaching staff plays a big part in this dynasty. Head Coach, John Wallin, Assistant Coach Brian Nill, and Sprinting Coach, Justin Kelly, all ran for this program and set the bar for the next generation of athletes.
This winning culture is how the Southern Connecticut Owls can perform at a high level. Every year the big question will resurface. Can The Owls Do It Again? With the great athletes and coaching this program has, I’m sure they will answer back dominantly.
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