FAYETTEVILLE, AR - McNeese State's David Rooney set a school record with a third place finish in the 3000 invitational meter run at the Arkansas Tyson indoor track and field meet Saturday.
The Cowboy standout turned in an 8:13.27 clocking in the race, brushing by the old McNeese record of 8:22.14 that had been held since 1996 by Trevor Foolkes. Rooney's effort, which was his debut in the event this season, was one of three top 10 efforts during the day for the Cowboys. The distance medley relay team of Jarrett LeBlanc, Charles Jackson, Alex Kiptoo and Joshua Sawe finished eighth in that race with a 10:13.68 performance and Thomas Canchola finished fifth in the shot put with a season best 53-6 ½ in the shot put. Also on Saturday, Xavier Stephens finished 14th in the triple jump at 47-0 ¼ while Jackson ran 22.29 in the 200 and Ashleigh Wells 25.26 in the women's 200, neither qualifying for the finals. Late Friday night efforts for McNeese had Sawe placing eighth in the invitational mile with a career best 4:10.01 clocking and Canchola placing 10th in the weight throw with a 48-10 effort.