Stephen Burns of RIT Wins National Championship in Javelin Throw
May 24, 2008
From Rochester Institute of Technology Sports Information Release
OSHKOSH, WI - Senior Stephen Burns (Newmarket, Ontario/Cardinal Carter) of the RIT men's track and field squad became a national champion on Saturday, as he won the javelin throw at the 2008 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Junior Mike Hardbarger (Parkersburg, WV/Ritchie County) finished fifth in the 1,500-meters to earn All-American honors.
Burns, making his fourth appearance in the NCAA Championships, came right out and fired the javelin 63.35 meters (207 feet, 10 inches) to set a new school and J.J. Keller Field record. Brock Solveson of Concordia University equaled Burns' throw shortly thereafter. Burns won the event on a tie-breaker, as his next best throw of 58.53 meters surpassed Solveson's second-best throw of 58.26 meters.
It is Burns' second All-American honor, as he placed fifth in 2006.
RIT Head Coach Dave Warth was thrilled with Burns' performance on Saturday.
"I am so proud of Steve, he had an amazing performance," said Warth. "It is the culmination of four great years. He is the first athlete I've coached to make the NCAA's all four years. He has thrown so consistently, it's great he saved his best throw for his last meet."
Burns is RIT's second national champion. Mark Stebbins was a two-time national champion in the 400-meter hurdles in 1976 and 1978. Burns is RIT's eighth dual All-American.
Hardbarger broke his own school record on Saturday by finishing fifth in the 1,500-meters in a blistering time of 3:49.36. He held the lead for nearly the entire race, setting a quick pace.
Warth thought Hardbarger ran a tremendous race.
"Mike came right out and took the lead and set a great, honest pace, running three straight (400-meter laps) 61's (seconds)," said Warth. "He has two more years of outdoor track eligibility left. Mike really took a big step up and hopefully this is just the beginning for him."
On Thursday, Hardbarger won his elimination heat in a time of 3:57.26, 28 hundredths of a second faster than second place finisher Andy Hodge of Wartburg College. Jimmy O'Brien of Ohio Northern, won the other heat in a time of 3:54.68. Hardbarger enjoyed a tremendous season for RIT, having broken a bevy of indoor and outdoor marks.
Senior Dereck Bojanowski (Franklinville, NY/Franklinville) finished 11th out of 16 runners in the 3,000-meter steeplechase on Friday with a strong time of 9:20.08. It was his second fastest time of the season. On May 3, Bojanowski recorded a time of 9:13.38 in the same event.
Burns and Hardbarger earned the 37th and 38th All-American track honors in the history of the RIT men's track and field program.
Burns, making his fourth appearance in the NCAA Championships, came right out and fired the javelin 63.35 meters (207 feet, 10 inches) to set a new school and J.J. Keller Field record. Brock Solveson of Concordia University equaled Burns' throw shortly thereafter. Burns won the event on a tie-breaker, as his next best throw of 58.53 meters surpassed Solveson's second-best throw of 58.26 meters.
It is Burns' second All-American honor, as he placed fifth in 2006.
RIT Head Coach Dave Warth was thrilled with Burns' performance on Saturday.
"I am so proud of Steve, he had an amazing performance," said Warth. "It is the culmination of four great years. He is the first athlete I've coached to make the NCAA's all four years. He has thrown so consistently, it's great he saved his best throw for his last meet."
Burns is RIT's second national champion. Mark Stebbins was a two-time national champion in the 400-meter hurdles in 1976 and 1978. Burns is RIT's eighth dual All-American.
Hardbarger broke his own school record on Saturday by finishing fifth in the 1,500-meters in a blistering time of 3:49.36. He held the lead for nearly the entire race, setting a quick pace.
Warth thought Hardbarger ran a tremendous race.
"Mike came right out and took the lead and set a great, honest pace, running three straight (400-meter laps) 61's (seconds)," said Warth. "He has two more years of outdoor track eligibility left. Mike really took a big step up and hopefully this is just the beginning for him."
On Thursday, Hardbarger won his elimination heat in a time of 3:57.26, 28 hundredths of a second faster than second place finisher Andy Hodge of Wartburg College. Jimmy O'Brien of Ohio Northern, won the other heat in a time of 3:54.68. Hardbarger enjoyed a tremendous season for RIT, having broken a bevy of indoor and outdoor marks.
Senior Dereck Bojanowski (Franklinville, NY/Franklinville) finished 11th out of 16 runners in the 3,000-meter steeplechase on Friday with a strong time of 9:20.08. It was his second fastest time of the season. On May 3, Bojanowski recorded a time of 9:13.38 in the same event.
Burns and Hardbarger earned the 37th and 38th All-American track honors in the history of the RIT men's track and field program.