BRUNO HEADS TO WISCONSIN FOR NATIONAL TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Emmanuel College junior Nathan Bruno (Lenox, Mass.) is set to compete in the NCAA Division III Track & Field Championships this week in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Bruno will represent the Saints as the College’s first-ever student-athlete to qualify for and compete in the national track & field championships. The University of Wisconsin – La Crosse will host the three-day championships at Roger Harring Stadium at the Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex.
Emmanuel College junior Nathan Bruno (Lenox, Mass.) is set to compete in the NCAA Division III Track & Field Championships this week in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Bruno will represent the Saints as the College's first-ever student-athlete to qualify for and compete in the national track & field championships. The University of Wisconsin – La Crosse will host the three-day championships at Roger Harring Stadium at the Veterans Memorial Field Sports Complex.
Bruno is slated to run in the men's 400 meter hurdles on Thursday, May 23rd at 5:25 PM. He enters the preliminaries ranked 4th nationally in the 400mH. Just three weeks ago, Bruno hit his best ever time, when he raced to a 51.87 finish to win the New England Division III Championship at Colby College on May 4th. Bruno's time set a new meet record and ranked him atop the country in the event. Since May 4th, three other competitors have run faster times, including Mount Union's Tyler Mettille (51.48), Augustana's David Voland (51.77) and Rowan's Demetrius Rooks (51.79). Besting Bruno by just hundredths of a second, this trio will pose the greatest challenge to him, when they take to the track on Thursday evening.
Bruno has been a three-sport standout at Emmanuel, since arriving on campus in 2010. The junior recently was honored as the College's Most Valuable Performer in all three of his sports, Cross Country, Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field, at the 2013 EC Athletic Department Awards Night. Head Coach Tony DaRocha, who has been at the helm of the three Emmanuel programs for the past twelve years, will accompany Bruno on the trek to Wisconsin. The collegiate Division III national championship experience is also a first for DaRocha, who coached primarily at the high school level prior to joining the Saints program in 2001.
DaRocha has coached Bruno to numerous accolades at Emmanuel, including countless honors, awards and record-breaking performances. Bruno is a 7-time All-Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) performer and an 8-time All-New England performer.
Bruno's All-ECAC recognition has come in the 500m (indoor – 2013 and 2012), 4x400m relay (indoor - 2013), 400mH (outdoor – 2013, 2012), 4x400m relay (outdoor – 2013) and 4x800m relay (outdoor – 2012). Bruno holds the Emmanuel individual program records for indoor track in the 500m (1:03.77), 600m (1:21.06) and 1000m (2:32.83) and for outdoor track in the 800m (1:56.96) and 400mH (51.87).
With his 1st place finish at the Division III New Englands this year, Bruno became Emmanuel's first student-athlete to win a New England Outdoor Track & Field Championship. He went on to capture 2nd place at the ECACs last weekend, falling just short of Rowan College's Rooks, who won the event.
This Thursday evening, Bruno will compete in one of three heats for the prelims of the 400mH. The winner of each heat, as well as those with the six next fastest times will advance to the finals. The 400mH finals will be held on Saturday, May 25th, at 4:55 PM. Emmanuel College has never had a national champion in any sport. The closest the Saints have come was the Women's Basketball Team's Final Four run in 2001.
The entire Emmanuel College community wishes Nate the best of luck this week in Wisconsin!
Go Saints!!!
Click on the links below for complete information on the NCAA Division III Track & Field Championships
UW LaCrosse Host Event Website
Official NCAA Men's Division III Outdoor Track & Field Website
Division III Men's Track & Field National Rankings
