April 24, 2008

PHILADELPHIA - All it took was two RedHawk student-athletes to give Miami University an exceptional showing at the 114th Penn Relays in Philadelphia on Thursday night.

Both competing against the nation's elite in their respective races, junior Pat Sovacool and senior Michael Veatch both left their marks on the events, both at the venue and in the Miami record books.

Sovacool finished fifth in the 5,000 meters, running a 13:56.77 which places him fifth on the all-time performance list at Miami. His time automatically qualifies him for the NCAA Regionals and gives him the best time in the MAC this season. What makes Sovacool's finish and time even more impressive is the fact that he was spiked in the foot on the race's opening lap, tearing open both his shoe and his foot. He finished the race, bloodied leg and all, among the nation's elite, and with a time that, most years, qualifies for the NCAA Championships.

Veatch finished seventh in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, ending in 8:51.67. That time places him second on the Miami all-time performance list. Veatch now has the fastest steeplechase time in the MAC this season and has hit the NCAA Regional qualifying standard. Only Dan Huling has run a faster steeplechase in the Red and White when he ran an 8:27.41 in 2006.

Sovacool and Veatch will now make their way back to Oxford, as the rest of the RedHawks will travel to the Stan Lyons Invitational at Butler University on Saturday with plenty of marks of their own to hit as the team progresses toward the MAC Championships in mid-May.