Bares, Fong Post Solid Outings at NCAA Regionals

Friday, May 26

Lexington, Ky.

All Day

Army West Point

NCAA Regionals

Bares, Fong Post Solid Outings at NCAA Regionals

May 26, 2017 | Men's Track and Field

NCAA East Regional Day 2 Results
NCAA East Regional Day 2 Results (PDF)

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Army West Point men's track and field team had two more cadet-athletes compete at the NCAA East Regional on Friday night.

Lee Bares soared high in the pole vault, while Jacob Fong took to the track in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Both represented Army well as Bares tied for 15th place and Fong earned 21st. Unfortunately, neither were able to advance to the next round.

ARMY HIGHLIGHTS AND GAME NOTES

Bares was just shy of qualifying for the quarterfinals in the pole vault, as he missed the cut by only four athletes. The junior had a nice showing though reaching a height of 16-10¾ feet (5.15 meters) to tie for 15th place out of 46 competitors.
Bares was the Patriot League's best finisher in this event as he beat out athletes from Bucknell and Navy.
Fong closed out Army's night, clocking a time of 8:59.00 in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. The Black Knights' lone senior competitor on the weekend placed 21st out of 48 student-athletes.

COACHES CORNER

Mike Smith, Director of Track and Field/Cross Country
- On the performances from the day: "Lee Bares looked good today. He was right in the hunt up until the defining bar at 5.25 meters and just could not get over it. He had good attempts at it but in the end you have to make those bars to advance. He will be here again next year and will have another shot to advance.
- "Jacob Fong ran a very strong race tonight. It was the second best time of his career in a race that was one of the fastest steeplechase races in NCAA regional history. Jacob was smart to lay back and let the race develop because the leaders set a furious pace. Jacob then worked his way up catching stragglers. A nice way to end his career.
- "The real story with Jacob is what transpired in the minutes after his race. We collected his gear and within 10 minutes of him crossing the finish line he was in a van headed toward Cumberland, Maryland, where we have another van waiting to pick him up with his graduation uniform ready to wear. The drive is 10.5 hours or so back to the Academy and he left at 9:45 p.m., so we anticipate that he will arrive at the gates between 8-9 a.m. Saturday morning just in time to get to the graduation ceremony. I will get updates from the road on his progress but we think that it will work out."

UP NEXT

Jeff Giannettino (high jump) is Army's final participant at the NCAA East Regional.
The sophomore is set to compete in the high jump on Saturday at 6 p.m.
Live stats for Saturday can be found HERE.

For more information on Army West Point men's track and field, visit GoArmyWestPoint.com and follow @ArmyWP_TrackXC on Twitter.