Who Is Going to Oregon for the NCAA Men’s Track & Field Championships

Seven Athletes From the Philly Colleges Qualified

May 25, 2024 –

The NCAA Eastern Regional meet for the NCAA Men’s Track & field concluded in Kentucky. Seven athletes from the Philly schools qualified and will being going to the national championship meet in Eugene, OR. Highlighting the qualifying meet is Villanova distance runner Liam Murphy who is the top qualifier from the East in the 1500m. He turned in a facility record time of 3:38.50.

Joining Murphy from Villanova will be fellow runners Charlie O’Donovan, Marco Langon, and Sean Dolan. Ryan Matulonlis of Penn qualifies in the 400m Hurdles. Two Penn Pole Vaulters Scott Toney and James Rhodes will be in the national finals.

Men’s 1500m

Murphy hit the finish line with a sprint at the end to pass Anass Essayi of South Carolina. The Wildcats had a last split if 52.73. Charlie O’Donovan running in Heat 1 along with Murphy got the last qualifying spot in the event at 3:39.99. . O’Donovan ran the fastest split in the 700m segment at 1:01.70. There were two heats in the event with the top five finishers in each qualified to go to Eugene along with the next two fastest runners. For O’Donovan every second mattered.

Men’s 5000m

Marco Langon of Villanova heads west to compete in the distance event. Langon ran a time of 13:58.89 tp place second in his heat. The top five finishers in each race automatically qualified. The Wildcat held the lead up to the 4600m split. He ran a 56.11 last split, but was passed by Parker Wolfe of North Carolina who turned in a time of 53.57 in the last 400m.

Men’s 800m

Sean Dolan of Villanova was the ninth fastest runner in the combined 3 heats posting a time of 1:46.40. He automatically qualified as a top three finisher in his heat.

Men’s 400m Hurdles

The University of Pennsylvania sends a runner to Oregon as Ryan Matulonis had a third place finish in his heat where the top three go to the nationals. Matulonis crossed the finish line in 1:45.50.

Men’s Pole Vault

Two vaulters wearing the Red and Blue stripes made the national final meet. Scott Toney of Penn cleared the bar at 5.42m to place sixth overall. James Rhodes had a height of 5.32m for eighth place. Twelve vaulters from the East head west.

The national championships take place from June 5 – 8 on Hayward Field on the campus of the University of Oregon.

The Women’s Eastern Regional concludes on May 25.

Written By: Glenn Papazian

Contact: Glenn@PhillyCollegeSports.com