Portland Tops the Dons in the Rebirth of the "Halftime Mile"

2/17/2011 10:11:03 PM

PORTLAND, Ore. --- The University of Portland runners edged out the San Francisco Dons in a rare WCC track & field match on Thursday night. The teams squared off in the one-mile event on the 240m indoor track in the friendly confines of the Chiles Center at halftime of the men’s basketball game. Redshirt junior Jared Bassett claimed first place overall in 4:11.38, leading the Pilots to a 15-21 team score victory.

The event matched four Pilots against four Dons in addition to Alex Nelson, a USF alumnus who did not count in the overall team score. The meet was scheduled to include ten runners but redshirt freshman Trevor Dunbar had to pull out. Dunbar’s father, Marcus, set the meet record of 4:04 in 1994.

Sophomore Trey Parry came in third overall in 4:14.84 followed by sophomore Cody Wells (5th/4:16.32) and freshman Scott Fauble (6th/4:16.47) to round out the Pilot finishers for head coach Rob Conner.

Fauble set a new PR in the one-mile event, bettering his old personal record of 4:17.

“Bassett ran a smart race and finished very strongly. He is on a roll right now,” said Conner. “It was a fun, friendly competition. We really appreciate Helen Lehman-Winters sending up her team. I think they enjoyed it too.”

Conner and Lehman-Winters were selected WCC men’s cross country co-coaches of the year this season.

San Francisco was led by Steven Garboden (2nd/4:12.90) who was aided by Will Marquardt (4th/4:15.89), Michael Barnes (7th/4:19.34), and Colin Hopkins (9th/4:28.05). Nelson finished eighth in 4:25.10 but since he was excluded from team scoring making Hopkins count as the eighth place finisher.

2011 “Halftime Mile”
Chiles Center
Portland, Ore.
February 17, 2011

Team Results
1. Portland, 15
2. San Francisco, 21

Individual Results
1. Jared Bassett, 4:11.38
2. Steven Garboden, 4:12.90
3. Trey Parry, 4:14.84
4. Will Marquardt, 4:15.89
5. Cody Wells, 4:16.32
6. Scott Fauble, 4:16.47
7. Michael Barnes, 4:19.34
8. Alex Nelson, 4:25.10
9. Colin Hopkins, 4:28.05

Courtesy Univeresity of Portland