VILLANOVA, Pa.  – The Rutgers men’s track and field team posted a number of outstanding finishes en route to a fifth-place showing at the 2009 Outdoor BIG EAST Championship on Sunday, May 3, in Villanova, Pa. The men collected 75.50 points thanks to a pair of individual event victories and several standout performances.

Notre Dame led the 14-team field with 130.50, edging runner-up Louisville by .5 points (130 points) and Georgetown took third with 92 points.

Sprinter Bruce Owens (Wenonah, N.J.) completed his Scarlet Knight career with a victory in the 200-meter dash, winning the conference title in a time of 21.44. Senior Kyle Grady (East Brunswick, N.J.) also enjoyed a stellar day on the track, placing second in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 14.49.

Freshman Adam Bergo (Plainfield, N.J.) returned to action for his second day of competition after finishing runner-up in the high jump on Saturday. Bergo took second, this time in the triple jump with a leap of 48’ 10 3/4”.

Rutgers received strong efforts from its relay squads as the 4x100-meter group finished fourth with a time of 41.40 and the 4x400-meter relay team placed fifth in 3:13.17. Wrapping up the performances on the track was freshman Ellis Mensah (West Orange, N.J.), who secured points for RU with his showing in the 400-meter. Mensah took eighth in a time of 49.45.

Saturday’s showing at the conference championship was highlighted by a 1-2-3 finish in the javelin. Junior Jeremy Pennino (Watchung, N.J.) who was coming off a victory in the event at the Penn Relays, recorded a throw of 215’ 10” to take top honors.

Senior Brandon Burkhardt (Dallas, Pa.) and sophomore Christopher Bradley (Nutley, N.J.) occupied the remaining two spots on the podium with Burkhardt finishing second (212’ 5”) followed by Bradley in third (197’ 2”).

Rutgers will next compete on Friday, May 15, through Sunday, May 17 with the men taking part in the IC4A Championships and the women contending in the ECAC Championships in Princeton, N.J.