DMR team sets new HPU Track and Field record at Penn State

• The quartet of Paul O’Donoghue, Nick Hula, Alejandro Torres and Paul O’Donoghue broke the DMR school record with a time of 10:01.35 at Penn State
• Senior Austin Miller finished third in the pole vault at PSU with a mark of 4.92m
• The Panthers return to PSU and the JDL Fast Track in Winston for Saturday competition

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The quartet of seniors Paul O’Donoghue and Nick Hula, junior Vinny Todaro and freshman Alejandro Torres posted a new school record in the distance medley relay to lead the High Point University men’s track & field team at the Penn State National Invitational Friday.

The speedy squad crossed the finish line in 10:01.35, breaking the previous school record by close to two seconds. O’Donoghue and Hula also were part of the team that set that mark (10:03.27) last season at Penn State. The strong time earned the quartet a fourth-place finish in a good race in the Keystone State.

“It’s great to see our DMR record continue to be challenged and beaten by our talented group of guys,” head coach Mike Esposito said. “But we have the talent to start winning these high profile races and I expect us to continue to make strides and get closer to making that goal a reality.”

In addition to the DMR performance, senior Austin Miller made his 2016 pole vault debut and placed third in the event with a mark of 4.92m (16-1.75).

On the sprints circuit, sophomore James House placed 19th with a time of 6.97 seconds. In the 60m hurdles prelims, senior Dennis Crawford posted a time of 8.65 seconds to finish 25th.

The Panthers will wrap up competition at Penn State on Saturday.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The men’s track & field team also sent a group of student-athletes to the JDL Fast Track to compete in the Camel City Classic Friday.

Junior Isaiah Henderson served as HPU’s lone representative in the pole vault and performed well, placing fifth with a mark of 4.25m (13-11.25).

In throws action, freshman Britton Mann finished 21st in the weight throw with a mark of 12.84m (42-1.50).

In mid-distance action, freshman Patrick Van Der Cruyssen finished 44th in the 800m run in a time of 2:02.15. Fellow freshman Larry Perez raced for the Panthers in the 400m run and finished 42nd in a time of 52.53 seconds.

Freshman Sean Banda placed 37th in the preliminaries of the 60m dash (7.07 seconds) while senior Andrew Kuras posted a time of 7.18 seconds to finish 53rd.

Banda also competed in the long jump and finished 39th with a mark of 5.91m (19-4.75).

HPU continues competition at the Camel City Classic on Saturday.