Bailey, McGrane Take To National Stage
MARIETTA, Ohio - Following the first day of competition at the 2009 NCAA Division III Track and Field Championship, junior Caitlin McGrane (Colville, Wash.) is in 12th place in the women's heptathlon while Greg Bailey (Beaverton, Ore./Westview) concluded his career in the preliminary flights of the men's hammer.
McGrane, who took 10th at the NCAA DIII Championships last year, finds herself sitting a 2594 points after the first four events. She is 24 points off from her day one total at the 2009 Northwest Conference Multi-Event Championship, where she finished with a school-record total of 4409.
On day one, McGrane showed her strength in the running events, placing sixth in the 100m Hurdles (15.39) and seventh in the 200m Dash (26.84) but she struggled a bit in the field events, clearing 1.43m in the high jump to take 20th place and throwing 10.07m in the shot put to finish in 12th. Despite the low finishes, the marks in the field events were still season-bests for McGrane, who tends to be a bit stronger on day two.
In the men's hammer, Bailey took sixth in his flight with a throw of 51.01m (167-4). Sophomore Bryan Kolacz of Keene State won the national championship with a season-best 61.48m (201-8).
McGrane will conclude the Loggers participation in the championship meet on Friday when the final three events of the heptathlon are competed.
