Indian graduates shine; Kump, All-American
Several Berkeley Springs High School alumni Ricky Kump, Tone Belt, Meghan Mock and Michael Twigg excelled on the athletic field this spring.
Kump finished fifth in the decathlon at the 2010 Men's NCAA Division II Track & Field Championships. Kump, a recent graduate of West Virginia Wesleyan, finished the grueling two-day decathlon with 6,770 points earning All-American status. Kump was the first Bobcat to earn All-American honors in track and field since 2008.
Kump began his collegiate career as a sprinter and had success, especially in the 200 and 400. However, because of his versatility, Kump gravitated to the decathlon and continually improved as he became more and more proficient in the events that were foreign to him; like the pole vault, discus, shot put, high jump and hurdles.
Kump, seeded 12th out of 12 competitors in Greensboro, put together a strong first day with second place finishes in the 100, 400 and high jump, including a personal best in the later of 6 feet 6 inches. He stood in third place (3,741 points) with five events remaining. With Kump's strongest events behind him he would need a gritty performance on day two to become an All-American and with a medal less than four laps in front of him Kump posted a "gutsy" 4:34.23 in the final event, the 1500. The 717 points Kump earned in the 1500 vaulted him past Eldon Grimslid (West Texas) and James Hardin (Abilene Christian) into fifth place.
With the All-American medal in hand, Kump was all smiles.
"I am very happy," Kump was quoted as saying. “The idea of being an All-American is something I've thought of more here recently. But, it was always a goal; you set your goals high. Not until recently was it something that was attainable."
Tone Belt (University of Louisville) qualified for the NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Track & Field Championships in the long jump. Belt, who recently won his third Big East title in the long jump, with a winning leap of 24 feet 9.25 inches (Belt placed second in the high jump as well), jumped 25 feet 1.25 inches to place fifth in the NCAA East Regional on Thursday, May 27, in Greensboro, North Carolina. The jump qualified him for the NCAA Championships. Belt, the 2007 NCAA Indoor long jump champion, will wrap up his collegiate career in Eugene Oregon next week.
Meghan Mock, capped off a successful sophomore season at West Virginia University with a fourth place finish in the long jump (19 feet, 4 inches) at the Big East Track & Field Championships in Cincinnati, Ohio.
WVU's track coach Sean Cleary praised Mock's performance.
"Megan Mock continues to prove that she is one of the leagues very best jumpers. In time, she will be competing at the NCAA Nationals,” Cleary said.
While Mock, Belt and Kump shined on the track, WVU freshman Michael Twigg quietly put together an outstanding year on the diamond.
Twigg, a true freshman, finished the year with a record of 3-1, including a win over the University of Maryland. The hard throwing southpaw started seven games and ended the season with the fourth best E.R.A. on the team of 5.44.
Congratulations to all and good luck to Louisville's first-ever track and field National champion, Tone Belt, as he finishes out his collegiate career.
