2006 Meet Recaps
May 25-27, at NAIA Outdoor Championship
Jason Scott produced another All-America effort in the pole vault at the NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Championship hosted by Fresno Pacific University. He cleared 16-feet 2.75-inches to tie for 5th place with the top six finishers recognized as All-Americans. By Scott's standards, it may have been a sub-par performance since he entered the meet with the nation's top mark (17-0.75), is the reigning indoor NAIA champion, and was the outdoor winner in 2004 as a freshman. Nonetheless, it was still an All-America accomplishment in the event for the fourth time in six NAIA tries - indoor and outdoor combined. Neil Henning and Ben Michaud narrowly missed All-America recognition in the shot put. Henning's heave measured 51-11.25 to place 7th while Michaud was 8th at 51-8.50. Henning was also 15th in the hammer with a throw of 165-4. Ryan Bundenthal finished 8th in the 400 meter hurdles in 55.25 seconds. He was 4th in his heat of the semifinals (53.79) and 4th in his prelim heat (54.06). Bundenthal false started his semifinal heat of the 110 meter hurdles after advancing with a 14.89 mark in the prelims. Dan Campbell finished 13th in the 10,000 meters in 31:48.09. Kevin Hall posted a time of 9:35.25 in the 3,000 meter steeplechase prelims and Kevin Kuhn crossed the line in 10:09.03, however both athletes failed to advance. Three-time NAIA high jump All-American Joel Smith wrapped up an injury-plagued spring season in the event by failing to clear the opening height. [COMPLETE RESULTS]
May 11, at Indiana Wesleyan Qualifier
Neil Henning established a new school record in the shot put with a heave of 53-feet 11-inches to take 1st place at the Indiana Wesleyan Qualifier. The sophomore's effort eclipsed the previous school mark of 53-4.25 set just five days earlier by freshman Ben Michaud at the NCCAA Nationals. Michaud was 2nd at IWU with a toss of 52-10.25. Both athletes have met the NAIA's automatic qualifying mark. Henning also won the hammer throw at 155-2. Other individual 1st-place finishes came from Kevin Hall in the 1,500 meters (4:07.59) and Ryan Bundenthal in the 110 meter hurdles (14.77). The 4 x 800 meter relay squad of Jud Brooker, Josh Saunders, Kyle Cayton, and Kevin Kuhn won with a time of 7:56.05.
May 5-6, at NCCAA Outdoor Championship
Jason Scott set a school record of 17-feet 0.75-inches to win the pole vault and was named the NCCAA Outstanding Field Performer of the Meet at Taylor University. He also placed 2nd in the javelin with a throw of 173-7. Scott added more than four inches to his old school record to win the NCCAA pole vault title for the second time in three years. The reigning NAIA indoor champion now has the top outdoor effort in the country for the 2006 season. The Yellow Jackets had nine other All-America performances (top 3 finishers) including two additional champions. Kevin Hall won the 3,000 meter steeplechase for the third consecutive year with a time of 9:28.89 while freshman Kevin Kuhn was 2nd in 9:36.92. Rookie Ben Michaud won the shot put which broke Phil Hulbert's 20-year old school-record with an effort of 53-4.25 which also met the NAIA automatic qualifying mark. Ryan Bundenthal was 2nd in the 400 meter hurdles (54.20) and 3rd in the 110 meter hurdles (15.09). Jim Sawin placed 2nd in the high jump (6-5), Dan Campbell was 3rd in the 10,000 meters (31:53.42), Joel Smith finished 3rd in the triple jump (44-3.75), and the 4 x 800 meter relay squad of Josh Saunders, Kyle Cayton, Jud Brooker, and Kevin Kuhn was 2nd in 7:54.02. Greenville won the team title with 168 points and was followed in the 15-team field by Malone (130) and Cedarville (108). [COMPLETE RESULTS and PHOTO GALLERY]
April 21-22, 56th Annual AMERICAN MIDEAST CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP
Kevin Hall registered an impressive victory in the 3,000 meter steeplechase to lead host Cedarville at the 56th Annual American Mideast Conference Championship. The Yellow Jackets completed a 4th-place finish in the 10-team event with 116 points. Tiffin narrowly won its third straight title with 178 points and was followed by runner-up Malone (173) and Roberts Wesleyan (127). Hall was just three seconds off of his career-best time with a mark of 9:28.26 in the steeplechase. Freshman Kevin Kuhn placed 2nd with a personal-low time of 9:43.51. Ryan Bundenthal was 2nd in the 110 meter hurdles in 15.21 seconds, but he set a new school record and met the NAIA automatic qualifying mark with a time of 14.75 in the prelims. He finished 3rd in the 400 meter hurdles in 54.73 and Joel Smith came in 2nd in the triple jump with a leap of 44-feet 4-inches. Third-place finishes came from Jim Sawin in the high jump (6-6), Justin Mattern in the pole vault (14-11), Ben Michaud in the shot put (49-5), and the 4 x 800 meter relay squad of Jud Brooker, Kyle Cayton, Josh Saunders, and Kuhn (7:52.24). Reigning NAIA indoor pole vault champion Jason Scott, who also has the top outdoor mark in the NAIA this spring at 16-6.75, pulled out of the competition with an injury. [COMPLETE RESULTS and PHOTO GALLERY]
April 13, at Anderson Invitational
Cedarville won three events and finished 2nd in six others en route to winning the team title at the Anderson Invitational. The Yellow Jackets tallied 144 points and was followed by runner-up Taylor, 134, in the seven-team event. Ryan Bundenthal won the 110 meter hurdles in 15.21 seconds and placed 2nd in the 400 meter hurdles in 23.27. Jim Sawin cleared 6-feet 4-inches to win the high jump. Kevin Hall finished 1st in the 1,500 meters in 4:00.13 and Kevin Kuhn was 2nd in 4:03.41. CU had four other runner-up finishes. Stephen Gruenberg had two of those in the long jump (19-1.50) and triple jump (39-0.50). Also placing 2nd were Justin Mattern in the pole vault (15-0) and Neil Henning in the hammer (160-11). [COMPLETE RESULTS]
April 7-8, at Miami Invitational
The Yellow Jackets finished 4th at the NCAA Division I Miami Invitational with Kevin Hall and Jason Scott posting victories. The host RedHawks won the 12-team meet with 204 points and were followed by Buffalo, 118; Notre Dame, 113; and Cedarville, 80. Hall took 1st place in the 3,000 meter steeplechase in 9:26.19 while Scott won yet another pole vault title by clearing 15-feet 1-inch. Ryan Bundenthal was 2nd in the 400 meter hurdles with an NAIA automatic qualifying time of 53.72 seconds. He was also 2nd in the 110 meter hurdles in 15.12 seconds. Jim Sawin cleared 6-6.75 in the high jump to place 2nd. Ben Michaud was 3rd in the shot put (49-3), Justin Mattern finished 4th in the pole vault (14-1), and Neil Henning was 4th in the hammer (163-7). [COMPLETE RESULTS and PHOTO GALLERY]
March 30 - April 1, at Emory Classic
Joel Smith and Dan Campbell met the NAIA automatic qualifying mark in their events and the Yellow Jackets totaled nine 1st-place finishes en route to winning the Emory University Classic. Cedarville tallied 171 points while runner-up Taylor had 98 in the 16-team field. Smith, a three-time NAIA All-American in the high jump, qualified in the javelin with a winning heave of 192-feet 11-inches. Campbell met the mark in the 10,000 meters with a top time of 31:43.74. Neil Henning swept the shot put (49-3) and hammer throw (158-7) competitions. Reigning NAIA indoor pole vault champion Jason Scott remained unbeaten for the 2006 indoor and outdoor seasons with a 16-0.75 effort. Other CU winners were Josh Saunders in the 1,500 meters (4:06.11), Ryan Bundenthal in the 110 meter hurdles (15.12), Kevin Hall in the 3,000 meter steeplechase (9:30.79), and Jim Sawin in the high jump (6-3.50). [COMPLETE RESULTS and PHOTO GALLERY]
March 25, CEDARVILLE OUTDOOR OPEN
Ryan Bundenthal won both the 110 meter and 400 meter hurdles to pace the Yellow Jackets to victory in the Cedarville Open. The meet was contested in sub-freezing wind chill and snow flurries. Bundenthal won the 110 meter hurdles in 15.47 seconds. He later copped 1st place in the 400 meter hurdles in 56.06 seconds. Jason Scott remained unbeaten in the pole vault during the combined 2006 indoor and outdoor seasons with a meet and track-record effort of 15-feet 6-inches. CU had three other winners. The trio was Josh Saunders in the 800 meters (2:01.0), Kevin Hall in the 1,500 (4:07.22), and Joel Smith in the javelin (184-5). The Jackets totaled 227 points to edge runner-up Anderson, who finished with 215 points, in the seven-team field. [COMPLETE RESULTS and PHOTO GALLERY]
March 9-11, at NAIA Indoor Championship
Jason Scott won the pole vault competition at the NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships with a school-record effort of 17-feet 0.75-inches. The junior, who earned All-America honors in the event for the second time in three years, won the NAIA outdoor pole vault title in 2004. He finished first in the pole vault in every indoor meet during the season. Joel Smith picked up All-America recognition in the high jump for the second straight year after placing 5th with a season-best effort of 6-9.75. He was also a 2005 outdoor All-American in the event which recognizes the top six finishers. Elsewhere, Ben Michaud finished 7th in the shot put with a school-record toss of 52-fee 7.50-inches while Neil Henning was 22nd (49-1.50). Six other Yellow Jackets were in competition but failed to advance to the finals in their respective event. Ryan Bundenthal was 3rd in his heat of the 60 meter hurdles with a school-record time of 8.44 seconds, Kevin Hall was 6th in the mile (4:26.03), Dan Campbell was 6th in the 5,000 meters (15:26.31), Benjamin Shroyer was 12th in the 3,000 meters (9:25.50), Justin Mattern tied for 13th in the pole vault (15-1), and Jim Sawin failed to clear the opening height in the high jump. [COMPLETE RESULTS and PHOTO GALLERY]
Feb. 24, at Ohio Northern
Jason Scott won his sixth pole vault title in six meets during the indoor season with a victory at Ohio Northern. He broke his own school record by clearing 16-feet 8-inches. Neil Henning won the shot put with a heave of 49-11 while teammate Ben Michaud was 2nd at 49-5.50. Henning was also 2nd in the weight throw with a mark of 49-9. The distance medley relay team of Kevin Hall, Kevin Kuhn, Josh Saunders, and Ryan Bundenthal placed 2nd with an NAIA automatic qualifying time of 10:25.90. Justin Mattern tied for 2nd in the pole vault (15-0) and Jim Sawin was 3rd in the high jump (6-4). Cedarville placed 6th out nine schools as host ONU won the event. [COMPLETE RESULTS]
Feb. 18, at NCCAA Indoor Championship
No less than 15 Cedarville athletes earned All-America honors and Dan Campbell grabbed the meet's top individual award as the Jackets took home the NCCAA Indoor Track & Field Championship. CU finished with 146.33 points to outscore six-time defending champion Greenville, who had 124.83 points, in the event hosted by Taylor University. Campbell won the 3,000 meters with a time of 8:41.99 and then was victorious in the 5,000 with a 15.32.57 effort. He was voted the Outstanding Performer of the Meet. Joel Smith won his second straight high jump title at 6-feet 8-inches which also met the NAIA automatic qualifying mark and Jason Scott repeated as pole vault champion after clearing 16-6. Scott set a school record and qualified for the NAIA Nationals in the 55 meter hurdles at 7.83 seconds in the prelims. In the finals of the event, Ryan Bundenthal matched the 7.83 mark to finish 3rd while earning All-America recognition (top 3 finishers). Elsewhere, Bryan Pittman was 2nd in the 5K (15:34.40), Joel Smith was 2nd in the triple jump (45-4.75), and Jim Sawin placed 3rd in the high jump (6-4). Ben Michaud finished as the runner-up in the shot put (51-2.50) one place ahead of teammate Neil Henning (50-5), who was also 3rd in the weight throw (50-1.50). Josh Saunders finished 2nd in the 800 meters (1:57.96) while Kevin Kuhn was 3rd (1:58.18), and Kevin Hall took 3rd in the mile (4:23.96). Finally, the distance medley relay team of Peter Schmid, Kyle Cayton, Jordan Seibert, and Seth Campbell placed 3rd in 10:48.53. Head coach Jeff Bolender and his assistants were recognized as the NCCAA Coaching Staff of the Year in the men's division. [COMPLETE RESULTS and PHOTO GALLERY]
Feb. 10, at Findlay Open
Jason Scott won the pole vault by clearing 16-feet 4.75-inches at the University of Findlay Open. The junior was one of three vaulters to clear the winning height but was declared the victor by virtue of fewer misses. Neil Henning was 3rd in the shot put with a heave of 50-5. Elsewhere, Kevin Hall was 4th in the mile (4:27.04), Joel Smith was 4th in the high jump (6-4.75), and Chris Lehman was 4th in the triple jump (39-7). This was a non-scoring meet. [COMPLETE RESULTS]
Feb. 3, CEDARVILLE INDOOR INVITATIONAL
The Yellow Jackets won eight events and finished second in seven others to win the Cedarville Indoor Invitational in the Doden Field House. CU finished with 204.5 points to easily outscore the 14-team field as runner-up Ohio Wesleyan totaled 95.5 points. Dan Campbell was one of three double winners. He met the NAIA automatic qualifying mark by winning the 5,000 meters in 15:11.68 after posting the fastest time in the mile at 4:29.43. Jason Scott won the 55 meter hurdles in 7.89 seconds and followed that up with a victory in the pole vault at 16-feet even. Joel Smith won both the high jump (6-6) and triple jump (44-7.50). Freshman thrower Ben Michaud qualified for the NAIA in the shot put with a winning heave of 50-1.25 and he was 2nd in the weight throw at 45-3.50. Neil Henning won the weight throw (47-1.50) and was 2nd in the shot put (49-2.25). Other runner-up finishes for the Yellow Jackets came from Justin Mattern in the pole vault (14-6), Ryan Bundenthal in the 55 meter hurdles (7.90), Kevin Kuhn in the 800 meters (1:59.66), Benjamin Shroyer in the 5K (15:38.30), and the 4 x 400 meter relay squad of Bundenthal, Matt Fox, Kuhn, and Josh Saunders (3:31.71). [COMPLETE RESULTS]
Jan. 28, at Rose-Hulman Invitational
Dan Campbell met the NAIA automatic qualifying mark with a win in the 3,000 meters and the Yellow Jackets captured the seven-team Rose-Hulman Invitational title. The Yellow Jackets finished with 178 points while Anderson was the runner-up with 141. Campbell had a winning time of 8:41.70 in the 3K. Jason Scott and Joel Smith were both double winners. Scott won the pole vault by clearing 15-feet 5.50-inches to go along with a victory in the 55 meter hurdles in a school-record time of 7.84 seconds. Smith won the high jump (6-6) and triple jump (43-1.75). The Yellow Jackets finished 2nd in six individual events as well as one relay. The list includes Josh Saunders in the 800 meters (1:59.39), Benjamin Shroyer in the 3,000 meters (8:48.05), Jimmy Sawin in the high jump (6-6), Justin Mattern in the pole vault (13-11.75), Ben Michaud in the shot put (49-2.25), and Neil Henning in the weight throw (45-9). The 4 x 400 relay team of Kyle Cayton, Kevin Kuhn, Josh Saunders, and Matt Fox was 2nd in 3:32.38. [COMPLETE RESULTS and PHOTO GALLERY]
Jan. 20, at Ohio Northern
NAIA All-American Jason Scott set a school record in winning the pole vault to lead four Yellow Jackets to individual titles as Cedarville opened the indoor schedule at Ohio Northern. Scott cleared 16-feet 6-inches to automatically qualify for the NAIA Nationals in March and broke the previous school mark of 16-2 set by Joe Cunningham in 1994. NAIA All-American Joel Smith tied for first place in the high jump at 6-5. Ryan Bundenthal was a winner in the 55 meter hurdles in 8.01 seconds and Benjamin Shroyer won the 5,000 meters in 15:48.79. Neil Henning broke his own school record in the shot put with a heave of 50-9.25 feet to place 3rd. The effort also met the NAIA automatic qualifying mark. Kevin Kuhn made his collegiate debut by finishing 3rd in the 800 meters in 1:59.84. The Yellow Jackets placed fourth out of seven teams with 98 points. The top three included Ashland (201.75), Ohio Northern (136.5), and Findlay (111.5). [COMPLETE RESULTS and PHOTO GALLERY]
