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News Release

UMBC Track and Field's Onto Named America East Perfomer of the Week

12/12/2007

Sophomore Keith Onto was named the America East Men's Field Performer of the Week.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.—UMBC track and field sophomore Keith Onto (Point Pleasant, N.J./Point Pleasant Borough/St. Francis (Pa.)) has been named the America East Conference Men’s Field Performer of the Week for the week ending Dec. 10, the conference announced Wednesday.

Onto finished fourth in the heptathlon at the Kent State Golden Flash Gala last weekend, amassing a total of 5,052 points for the seven-stage event.  Onto’s total set a new UMBC record in the event, smashing the previous record of 4,688 points set in 2006 by Charles Devaud.

The sophomore transfer from St. Francis (Pa.) now has two heptathlon records to his name, as he set a new Red Flash record of 4,756 points at the 2007 IC4A Indoor Championships.  Though still early in the season, Onto also looks poised to add an America East title and possible championship record to his resume as his score of 5,052 points outdistances the current America East Championship record of 4,971 points, set in 2004 by New Hampshire’s Craig Lange, by almost 100 points.

During last weekend’s competition, Onto turned in career-bests in the 60-meter dash (7.30), long jump (6.52m), shot put (12.29m), 60 hurdles (8.48), and pole vault (3.40m) and also qualified for the 2008 IC4A Championships with his heptathlon score.

Vermont’s Colin Lyons and Jaime Recore earned the Men’s Track Performer and Women’s Field Performer of the Week awards, respectively, while Hartford’s Kaycee Martinez garnered the Women’s Track Performer of the Week honor.

The UMBC track and field teams will return to competition in 2008, as they travel to Fairfax, Va. on Jan. 5 for the George Mason Patriot Invitational.