All-American Kone has injury, settles for eighth

COLUMBUS, Ohio --- While Friday was the highlight of Dominique Kone's track and field life, Saturday might go down as his most heartbreaking.

The Colby College sophomore appeared to pull his left hamstring about 20 to 25 meters into the race, but gamely hopped over the finish line to finish in 9.45 and take eighth in the 55-meter dash at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships on Saturday night.

Kone had the best time in the country, set facility and school records, and broke the Capital Center Track record in winning a heat on Friday night in 6.34. That got him into Saturday's final, which consisted of two four-man races. By making the championship final, Kone did secure All-American status for finishing in the top eight.

Phillip Jones of University of Dubuque and Xavier Mateen of Buffalo State each had a 6.37 finish to tie for the national title. Kone had a 6.34 on Friday in the heats and will end the season with the best time in the country in NCAA Division III.

55 Meter Dash

Final

   1 Phillip Jones, So, University of Dubuque          6.37 H1        

                               Betters old DIII season's best

   1 Xavier Mateen, Sr, Buffalo State                  6.37 H2        

                               Betters old DIII season's best

   3 Nick Bee, Fr, Wisconsin Whitewater                6.39 H2        

    4 Kenneth Turner, So, McMurry University            6.40 H1        

    5 Zach Lee, Sr, Wisconsin La Crosse                 6.44 H2        

    6 Scott Thomas, Sr, Mount Union College             6.45 H1        

    7 Eric Woodruff, Sr, Moravian College               7.70 H1        

    8 Dominique Kone, So, Colby College                 9.45 H2        

55 Meter Dash Heats

Round 1, Heat 1

   1 Dominique Kone, So, Colby College                 6.34Q        

                                           DIII season's best

                                 Capital Center Track record

         Was 6.39; Julius Higginbotham, Heidelberg, Mar-7-09

   2 Xavier Mateen, Sr, Buffalo State                  6.41q        

    3 Eric Woodruff, Sr, Moravian College               6.42q        

    4 Scott Thomas, Sr, Mount Union College            6.446q        

    5 Nick Ward, Sr, Augsburg College                 6.448         

    6 Jordan Werner, So, Milwaukee Engineering         6.457         

Round 1, Heat 2

   1 Nick Bee, Fr, Wisconsin Whitewater                6.41Q        

    2 Kenneth Turner, So, McMurry University            6.42q        

    3 Phillip Jones, So, University of Dubuque         6.447q        

    4 Sam Flood, Sr, Wisconsin Stout                    6.48         

    5 Jeremiah Edwards, Jr, Rose-Hulman Inst Tech       6.48         

Round 1, Heat 3

   1 Zach Lee, Sr, Wisconsin La Crosse                 6.42Q        

    2 Davivorn Dowe, Jr, University of Dubuque          6.49         

    3 Justin Allen, So, Buffalo State                   6.49         

    4 Keith Ingram, Sr, Wisconsin Stevens Pt            6.52         

    5 DeShaun Thomas, Sr, Farmingdale Suny              6.74