RELEASE DATE: 2/29/04

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: FRESHMAN CHRIS CUMMINGS WINS MILE RUN AT PSAC CHAMPIONSHIPS – FIRST RUNNER IN SCHOOL HISTORY TO WIN PSAC CHAMPIONSHIP

EAST STROUDSBURG –

On Leap Day, freshman Chris Cummings (Mansfield/Mansfield)  made a giant stride for Mansfield University indoor track by becoming the first runner in school history to win a PSAC Indoor Championship with a first place finish in the mile run during the second day of the PSAC Indoor Track and Field Championships at East Stroudsburg University Sunday afternoon.

The race, which many considered the most thrilling of the entire championship, turned into a three man run with Cummings school record time of 4:17.46 edging out Lock Haven’s Chris Cowan (4:17.59) and Allen Pryde (4:17.87) of Shippensburg. Cummings time also shattered the PSAC Indoor Championship meet record of 4:20.33  by Millersville’s Mark Stallings last year.

“Chris Cummings literally ran the race of his life,” said head coach Mike Rohl. “I guess nobody told him he wasn’t supposed to win in a field that was this strong -- but he did. In a race that was as tough mentally as it was physically, it really was an extraordinary effort in which he bettered his personal best time by more than five seconds. It has to rank among the great moments in Mansfield University track history.”

Cumming also finished ninth in the 3,000 meters with a time of 8:56.81 to lead the Mountaineers to ninth place in the final team standings with 17 points. Lock Haven won the men’s team competition with 150 points.

Despite not having the services of leading runner Charity Learn, the women’s team still managed to finish 10^th in the team standings ahead of Edinboro and Bloomsburg with eight points. Kutztown won the team competition with 124 points.

Senior Stephanie Cadwell just finished out of the money in seventh place in an exceptional 800 meters field with a time of 2:20. Freshman Rachel Hall posted impressive finishes placing eighth in the mile (5:20.35) and 12^th in the 3,000 meters (10:46.82).