April 7, 2009

PHILADELPHIA - The La Salle track and field team is set to host its first outdoor track meet in 12 years on Thursday, as the Explorers host Temple University in the inaugural John L. McHale '49 Dual Meet. The meet is set to kick off at 5:00 PM on Frank Wetzler Track at McCarthy Stadium, with the awarding of the first McHale Trophy and an alumni reception to follow.

Track and field competition in McCarthy Stadium last happened in 1997, when La Salle hosted the first-ever Atlantic 10 Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

This meet presents an opportunity not only for the current Explorers to compete on home turf, but also to showcase the storied history of La Salle track and field. The namesake of the meet - John L. McHale - is a benefactor and alumnus of the program who was a part of the program in its infancy.

Also, Temple head coach Eric Mobley is a 1993 graduate of La Salle who enjoyed a standout career on 20th and Olney and later served as an assistant under current head coach Charles Torpey. As an Explorer, Mobley earned all-conference and all-East honors in the 400 meter dash. He helped oversee four school records and a second place finish in the 1998 Atlantic 10 Men's Indoor Championship during his four years as an assistant. Mobley is in his first year coaching the Cherry and White after four years of guiding a very successful Division III program at The College of New Jersey.

The current Explorers also bring quite a resume to their first-ever home meet, including a combined 55 IC4A/ECAC qualifying times during the indoor season.

Senior distance runner Christa Plummer was an NCAA provisional qualifier in the indoor 5K and already hit the provisional mark in the outdoor 10K. Senior middle distancer Meaghan Hobson broke two school records this year, including the indoor 400 meters and indoor 500 meters. Senior hurdler Steven Rendall holds 12 of those IC4A times himself as he qualified nearly every time he ran. Rendall qualified for the NCAA Regional outdoor meet last year in the hurdles and competed in the meet at Florida State.

Plummer, Hobson, Rendall and the rest of the Explorer squad kick off competition at 5:00 PM on Thursday. The javelin and shot put events will take place at Temple at 1:30 PM.

Below is the schedule of events for Thursday's meet: