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New Britain, CT - Central Connecticut had won it twice before, but this one is different.

Hosting the NEC Outdoor Track & Field Championships for the first time ever, the Blue Devils scored 208 points to capture their third consecutive men’s team title.

Fifth-year senior Matt Walker’s gutsy long distance performance was a key component of CCSU’s victory as was junior Joe Gioielli’s work in the middle distance races.

Walker captured the NEC Most Outstanding Distance Performer award after striking gold in both the 5,000m and 10,000m events.

Meanwhile, Gioielli accounted for 20.5 points. The third-year Blue Devil won the 1500m run before placing second at the 800m distance. One day earlier, Gioielli anchored CCSU’s winning 4x800m relay squad.

LIU Brooklyn, the reigning NEC Indoor team champion, accounted for 154 points to earn runner-up honors in the race for the team title. The Blackbirds benefitted from the work done by a pair of outstanding performers.

Graduate student Brendon Rodney out-classed his competition in the 100m and 200m dashes en-route to securing the NEC Most Valuable Performer award.

Adam Walker-Khan contributed 20 points of his own to the Blackibirds’ total. The British-born Walker-Khan struck gold in the long and triple jumps while staking claim to the Most Outstanding Jumper accolade. He has accumulated five gold medals and one silver at the conference’s outdoor championships over the past three years.

Rodney and teammate Mica-Jonathan Petit-Homme, who again won the 400m hurdles, will contest the NCAA Division I East Region Championships with the hope of returning to the national title meet in Eugene, OR.

Fairleigh Dickinson’s Mark Ramsey claimed wins in the shot put and discus, easily surpassing the IC4A Championships qualifying standard for both events. The Garden State product is heading back to Hackensack with the Most Outstanding Thrower award in his possession.

Mount St. Mary’s freshman Brian Sagendorf, who has earned a bid to the NCAA East Region meet, registered another impressive performance in the javelin and secured the NEC Most Outstanding Rookie honor as a result.

TEAM STANDINGS
1. Central Connecticut, 208
2. LIU Brooklyn, 154
3. Saint Francis U, 132.5
4. Mount St. Mary's, 83
5. Fairleigh Dickinson, 81
6. Sacred Heart, 71.5
7. Wagner, 38
8. Bryant, 25
9. St. Francis Brooklyn, 22
 
MAJOR AWARD RECIPIENTS
Most Valuable Performer: Brendon Rodney, LIU
Most Outstanding Track Performer (Distance): Matt Walker, CCSU
Most Outstanding Track Performer (Sprints): Brendon Rodney, LIU
Most Outstanding Field Performer (Throws): Mark Ramsey, FDU
Most Outstanding Field (Jumps): Adam Walker-Khan, LIU
Most Outstanding Rookie Performer: Brian Sagendorf, MSM