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Todd Ptacek |
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AS A SOPHOMORE: Came on strong during the track season after his cross country season was spoiled by injury ... had a breakthrough meet at the indoor BIG EAST Championships, competing in the 4x800 meter relay and the 1,000 meter run ... just missed all-BIG EAST honors in the 1,000 meters by placing fourth in a time of 2:26.29 that ranks as the ninth-fastest in school history... helped the 4x800 meter relay team finished second in 7:38.09 ... joined on that relay by Eric Morrison, Adam Currie, and Brett Adams ... followed up that performance by placing tenth in the mile at the Alex Wilson Invitational (4:05.57) ... concentrated on the 3,000 meter steeplechase in the outdoor season ... placed sixth in his section of the steeplechase at the Stanford Invitational (9:05.40) ... ran well at the Indy Relays, placing third in the 1,500 meters with a time of 3:50.55 ... competed with Eric Morrison, Brett Adams, and Jake Watson in the 4x1600 meter relay at the Drake Relays ... ran a 1600 meter split of 4:09 ... qualified for the BIG EAST Championships in the 3,000 meter steeplechase ... earned all-BIG EAST honors with a third place finish behind two teammates (9:06.12) ... qualified for the NCAA Mideast Regional in the 3,000 meter steeplechase ... ran 9:12.17 in the meet for tenth place.
AS A FRESHMAN: Competed in his first three career cross country meets ... finished 23rd at the Valparaiso Invitational, 49th at the National Catholic and 30th in the Notre Dame Invitational gold division race ... attempted several different distances during the 2004 indoor track and field season, eventually qualifying for the BIG EAST indoor meet in the 1,000 meters (2:29.42) and mile (4:18.35) ... did not compete as an individual at the BIG EAST indoor meet, but helped the 4x800-meter relay team of Kevin Somok, Eric Morrison and Ryan Hurd finish fourth in 7:42.24 ... focused on the steeplechase during the 2004 outdoor season, winning his first collegiate event at the Indy Relays - finishing first in 9:14.40 ... took fifth in the BIG EAST outdoor meet in the steeplechase (9:15.93).
HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL: Multi-sport standout at Lake Michigan Catholic in St. Joseph, Mich. ... earned 16 varsity letters in his prep career on five different teams (cross country, golf, basketball, track and field and football) ... 2003 Southwest Michigan Athlete of the Year ... led the 2002 cross country team to an undefeated conference record ... won the Berrien County Cross Country individual title as well as the Red Arrow Conference championship ... took home conference championships in the 800 and 1,600 meters as a senior ... moved on to claim regional titles in the 4x3,200 meters, 800, 1,600 and 5,000 meters ... ended up as the Berrien County 1,600-meter runner up in 2002 and 2003, while finishing third in the 800 meters in '03 ... helped the cross country team finish fourth at the 2002 state meet ... highly involved in extra-curricular activities, including National Honor Society, class treasurer, choir, Youth to Youth, Spanish Club, Academic Challenge, Tutor Principal List and preschool mentor ... youngest of two children ... born April 2, 1985, in St. Joseph, Mich. ... plans to major in mechanical/aerospace engineering ... enrolled in the College of Engineering ... earned Dean's List honors during both the fall 2004 and spring 2005 terms and takes a 3.767 cumulative GPA into 2005-06 academic year.
