Bares Sets Men’s Track Record at Penn State Relays

Saturday, January 9

State College, PA.

All Day

Army West Point

Penn State Relays

Bares Sets Men’s Track Record at Penn State Relays

January 09, 2016 | Men's Track and Field

State College, Pa. – The Army West Point men's track and field team had 10 top-five performances, including Lee Bares setting a meet record in the pole vault en route to a first-place finish in the event at the Penn State Relays from the Horace Ashenfelter III Indoor Track facility on Saturday.

"The first meet back from break is always interesting because your team departs to all different parts of the world and the rhythm of training is disrupted," said Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Mike Smith. "Today was more or less what I expected it to be. We had some outstanding marks from our top performers, some surprises from out younger athletes and some rusty performances."

Bares continues to inch closer to the program-record in the pole vault, improving from his 5.11m mark set at the Crowell Open over a month ago with a 5.15m performance today. He is now .09m away from Darrin Hinman's mark of 5.24m which was set in 1997 in a tri-meet versus St. John's and Columbia.

"Our plebes and yearlings were our stars today," added Smith. "Lee Bares won the vault and continues to ascend. He is a great competitor, and I think he will reach quite a few more podiums this winter."

Additionally, Tyler Davis took third in the long jump, leaping 6.86 meters, and fourth in the 60-meter dash with a time of 6.87. Freshman Kenneth Brinson placed third in the weight throw with a toss of 18.63 meters, and Jeff Giannettino worked his way to a fourth-place finish in the high jump at 2.01 meters.

"Maybe the best performance of the day belonged to Tyler Davis," Smith remarked. "He missed almost all of last year with various ailments and has really started to find his rhythm this year. His training for the heptathlon and decathlon has really benefitted him in the sprints and jumps."

Kenneth Brinson was outstanding today. He's a great athlete, which was obvious on the football field this fall. For him to come out and throw as well as he did today is remarkable. The throws on the men's side are typically developmental because the weight at the high school level is much lighter, but Kenneth has adapted quickly."

The 4x400-meter relay of Marcus Denham, Jose Santana, Trevor Touchton and Ben Boswell placed fourth with a time of 3:21.28, while freshman Ben Sims placed fifth in the 60-meter dash, sprinting to a time of 6.91. Santana also placed fifth in the 200-meter dash, completing the race in 22.11. The 4x800-meter relay saw similar success with many of the same runners guiding the team. Touchton and Boswell, now paired with Nick Causey and Jack Monday, placed fifth in the longer of the two relays, crossing the finish line at 7:45.40.

The Black Knights return to action next Friday, Jan. 15, when they travel to Blacksburg, Va., for the Virginia Tech Invitational with the tournament wrapping on on Saturday, Jan. 16.

For up-to-date information on Army men's track and field visit GoArmyWestPoint.com or follow @ArmyWP_TrackXC on Twitter.