Tom Divinnie
Divinnie Smashes 5000m Record at Liberty Open
1/29/2010 9:36:38 PM | Men's Track & Field
LYNCHBURG Va. – Senior Tom Divinnie rewrote the Davidson men's track and field record books for the second time in as many meets, winning the 5000-meter run at the Liberty Open in a school-record, 14 minutes, 44.59 seconds Friday night in Tolsma Indoor Track Center.
"That was another tremendous effort from Tom," said head coach Gary Andrew. "Half-way through the race he was on his own."
The Wildcats claimed four of the top-five positions in the event. Junior Charlie Schmitt nearly eclipsed the previous record of 15:02.3, set by Lance Harden in 2006, finishing third in 15:03.89, exactly one-tenth of a second shy of second-place finisher Benjamin Ronoh of Eastern Tennessee State.
Sophomore Ryan Hopkins took fourth in a personal-best 15:08.86, the ninth-best time in Davidson history. Hopkins now ranks as the 'Cats' sixth-best performer in the event all-time. Freshman Demetrios Pagonis rounded out the top-five in 15:19.58, ranking him as the ninth-best Davidson performer in the event. Freshman Wes Reynolds placed eighth in 15:52.29.
"It was a terrific performance overall," said Andrew. "The guys really got after it and had a great start to this meet."
Divinnie broke Davidson's 3000-meter run record in the Wildcats' season-opening event Saturday, Jan. 23, the Kent Taylor UNC Classic. Divinnie won the event in 8:24.47, surpassing Alex Hoyt's mark of 8.35.14 and Dan Gibson's oversize track mark of 8:25.7.
Divinnie's new 5000m record also surpasses Gibson's oversize mark in the event of 14:59.22, set in 2002.
The 5000m was the only event the 'Cats competed in on Friday. The team will compete in select events on the second day of competition Saturday.
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