Day #1 Results (.pdf)

MACOMB, Ill. - The IUPUI men's track team couldn't have asked for a much better start to the 2015 Summit League Outdoor Championships as sophomore Damon Pruett earned a wire-to-wire victory on the meet's opening night. Pruett became the program's first-ever individual outdoor champion, running the 10,000m race in a time of 30:25.15.

"I can't say enough good things about Damon," IUPUI Head Coach Chuck Koeppen said. "He just ran tough, right from the start. It was pretty neat to see him hold it down the stretch and get to the finish line. I know his folks are proud of him and we're really proud of him. This is a race he'll always remember."

Pruett took the lead from the outset, leading a four-man pack of teammate Miguel Lozano and South Dakota's Brant Haase and Mubarik Musa through the first half of the race. Even after Musa and Lozano fell off the pack, Pruett continued to push the pace with Haase right on his heels. After going stride for stride for the majority of the race, Pruett finally made a move and gained some separation with roughly 1,000 meters remaining. He maintained the gap at the start of the bell lap before the much taller Haase began chewing up the margin with his long strides.

It appeared as though Pruett would relent with roughly 200 meters left, but a late kick over the final 60 meters gave him a two-second margin of victory. Pruett's time was eight seconds better than his previous best effort, set in Cincinnati in late March.

"Making that move with a couple laps left really helped him and it definitely helped him that his teammates were cheering him on on that final stretch," Koeppen said. "I couldn't be happier for him."

Musa outdueled Lozano for the third All-Summit League spot, placing third at 30:51.54. Lozano was fourth at 31:00.70.

"We thought we had two guys that could finish in the top four," Koeppen said. "I'm proud of both of those guys. I don't think Miguel felt that great tonight, but that's part of it. Sometimes you have it and sometimes you don't."

Max Zmija finished 11th at 32:28.95 and freshman David Behrmann was 13th at 33:26.59.

Pruett's 10 points and Lozano's five put the Jaguars in third-place after the first day of competition. The Jaguars will be back in action on Thursday (May 14) at Hanson Stadium.