Men's Track & Field | 5/27/2010 10:10:41 PM

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BEREA, OH - It was a banner weekend for the RIT men's track and field program, as junior Michael Dempsey earned All-American status and was the national runner-up in the pole vault, while classmate Matt Marion (Lima, NY/Honeoye Falls-Lima) placed seventh in the 400-meter hurdles to garner All-American honors at the 2010 NCAA Division III Track and Field Championships hosted by Baldwin Wallace College.

Dempsey, who was the national runner-up and earned All-American honors at the 2010 NCAA Indoor Championships in March, broke his own school record for the fifth time this season and set a personal best with a leap of 5.16 meters.  Dempsey set the record-breaking leap on his third attempt at that height.  Jake Winder of North Central College won the event with the same leap of 5.16 meters, attaining the mark on his second attempt. 

"It was a great competition, and I was happy to set my personal record," said Dempsey. 

"Today was one of the best pole vault competitions I have seen in a long time," said RIT Assistant Coach Ethan Senecal.  "It went back and forth with three guys until Mike and Jake Winder pulled away.  I was ecstatic with Mike's performance today.  Anytime you can set a personal record, is a good day."

Marion just missed his personal record by one hundredth of a second, placing third in his heat, and seventh overall finishing in a speedy 53.08 meters.  In the final, Marion placed seventh with a time of 54.37 seconds.  It is Marion's first All-American honor.

It is the second time in three seasons that two Tigers will earn All-American honors at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.  In 2008, Stephen Burns (Newmarket, ON/Cardinal Carter) was victorious in the javelin throw, and Michael Hardbarger (Parkersburg, WV/Ritchie County) was fifth in the 1,500-meter run.