By Christopher Hunt
photos by wingedfootfotos.com
Just second after Michael Rutt stepped off the track for the last time, his teammates hoisted him in the air and carried him across the infield. His legs needed a break anyway.
Rutt broke a 20-year old meet record in the 800 meters, winning in 1:49.17, finished second in the 500 in 1:02.90 and anchored the Huskies’ third-place 4x400 to help the University of Connecticut complete its second straight victory at the Big East Championships Saturday with 138.50 points. Notre Dame finished second with 134 and Louisville third with 114.
“It felt amazing,” Rutt said. “Just knowing that we can come back and win again and for me to contribute to it is just incredible.”
It’s more incredible is that Rutt joined the team his freshman year as a walk-on with head coach Greg Roy telling him he may not even make the team. The junior won his first Big East 800 title last outdoor season and his first indoor title Saturday while also topping a record set in 1989 by Villanova’s Paul Rowbotham of 1:49.75. Rutt spent most of the race fending off Seton Hall’s James Gurr, who shadowed Rutt throughout.
“I was just kind of looking over,” Rutt said. “I was just trying to hold him off. I knew he would try to pull the kick out of me. I know what kind of runner he is. I figured I had to make a move before he did.”
The Huskies did most of their damage by loading the scoring in races. Anthony Burris and Anthony Pomo finished third and fourth in the 60 meters, respectively. Burris then placed fourth in the 200 followed by Kevin Steinberg in fifth. Marquis Thomas was second in the high jump at 7 feet, ¼ inches with Ellis Gaulden fourth (6-10.75).
But they also enjoyed big wins. Andrew Dubs won the shot put, tossing 59-0.25 and Aaron King won the heptathlon with an Armory fieldhouse record of 5,460 points.
“It took every one of these guys,” head coach Greg Roy said. “We brought 32 guys to the meet. It really took every one of them.”
Roy called his team’s performance two weeks ago at the New Balance Collegiate Invitational rough and was in discouraged in regard to the conference meet that lay ahead. But the time apparently gave his team a chance to regain some sharpness.
“The Big East Championships are all about doing it on the day,” Thomas said. “We did it again today.”
Providence junior Hayden McLaren set an Armory fieldhouse record winning the 1,000 in 2:22.50. Teammate David McCarthy outkicked a defiant Kyle Heath of Syracuse to win an exciting 3,000 in 8:07.06. Heath finished second in 8:08.31.
Reach Christopher Hunt at chunt@armorytrack.com.