Tum posts best 800 time in nation

Moses Tum posted the fastest time in NCAA Division II in the 800-meter run Saturday as the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs took fourth place at the Jack Christiansen Invitational Saturday.

Tum's altitude-adjusted time of 1 minute, 50.68 seconds was the best run by any Division II runner so far this season. While it was 1.28 seconds short of an automatic qualifying time for nationals, it should easily be a good enough provisional time to earn a berth.

Dan Strishock set a new school record in the 400-meter dash with an adjusted time of 50.85 seconds. Strishock finished 11th in the race, but was second among non-Division I runners.

Air Force won the team competition, while host Colorado State finished second, Wyoming third. Black Hills State tied UCCS for fourth.

The Mountain Lions took third, fifth and seventh in the 5,000-meter run. Austin Vigil and former UCCS star Greg Augspurger, both running unattached, took first and second. UCCS. Jay Luna grabbed third and Air Force's Matt Hellier took fourth. UCCS' Ryan Price took fifth and teammate John Tucker was seventh.

"We had some unexpected fast races," said UCCS coach Graeme Badger, who singled out Tucker.

Craig Galaydick had the best non-Division I discuss throw with a toss of 149 feet, 2 inches.

"Some fast times were a result of ideal weather conditions and good end of the year training," said Badger. "We look forward to even better marks in a couple weeks when many athletes taper."