COLUMBUS, Ohio — Bates senior Chris Murtagh won his first All-America honors on Friday, placing fifth in the 35-pound weight throw at the NCAA Division III indoor track and field championships at Capital University.

Murtagh, of Rowley, Mass., stood in fifth place after his fifth throw, his second of the final round.

Two competitors passed Murtagh on their penultimate throws, but on his final effort of the season Murtagh threw the weight 19.19 meters, or 62 feet, 11.5 inches, passing both men and moving back into fifth place.

The top eight finishers are awarded NCAA All-America honors.

Murtagh’s final distance would have been good enough for first place in the event last year.

Murtagh made the finals with his second throw of the preliminary round, at 18.65 meters. He moved up into fifth place, temporarily, with his first throw in the finals, at 19 meters even.

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“Chris did a fantastic job of competing today, and now we get to put his plaque up on the wall in Merrill,” said head coach Al Fereshetian, referring to the track and field teams’ wall of fame recognizing all Bates’ All-Americans. “I think this sets him up for a great outdoor season.”

Murtagh is a five-time All-NESCAC performer in outdoor track and field, including two conference javelin titles.

Two other Bates men’s throwers, sophomore David Pless of Atlanta and senior Ethan Waldman of Playa del Rey, Calif., compete in the shot put at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.

It is Bates’ 17th All-America performance all-time in the weight throw, and Murtagh becomes the 12th Bates man to achieve the honor. He is Bates’ first indoor All-American since Noah Gauthier won the NCAA weight throw title in 2008.

Also at the Division III nationals, Colby men’s sprinter Dominique Kone of Bucksport is one of the favorites for a national title after running a blazing 6.34 in winning the first heat of the night and qualifying for Saturday’s final in the 55-meter dash.

Kone, a sophomore, was tied with Lawaun Curry for the Colby school record at 6.43 heading into the NCAA meet. He was tied with six other sprinters for 11th in the country with that 6.43 before Friday’s heats.

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The championship race will be at 6:05 p.m. Saturday.

Baseball

Maine 10, Georgetown 5

WINTER PARK, Fla. — Three different University of Maine baseball players had three hits in a 10-5 win Friday over Georgetown.

Maine improves to 4-11 on the season, while Georgetown falls to 8-7. 

Georgetown jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Mike Garza doubled and scored when Sean Lemont singled up the middle.

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Maine tied the game in the bottom of the frame. Taylor Lewis singled up the middle and scored when Alex Calbick singled to the right side.

The Black Bears took the lead in the bottom of the second inning when Eric White struck out but reached on a wild pitch. He scored when Mike Fransoso reached on an error.

Maine extended its lead to 3-1 when Lewis singled and scored on a Tyler Patzalek sacrifice fly.

Georgetown pulled within one run in the top of the fifth inning. Corbin Blakey reached on an error and scored when Garza singled up the middle.

Maine countered with two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Fran Whitten singled, and Calbick followed with a double. Patzalek singled up the middle, driving in Whitten. Calbick scored when Mike Connolly lofted a sacrifice fly.

Georgetown tallied a pair of runs in the top of the sixth, but Maine answered with five runs in the bottom of the stanza.

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Joey Martin reached on an error. Lewis followed with a double. Whitten singled, scoring Martin. Calbick reached on an fielder’s choice. Patzalek reached on an error, and Lewis scored. White walked and Calbick scored on an wild pitch. Fransoso and Martin both drew bases-loaded walks.

Jeffrey Gibbs went seven innings on the mound and allowed five runs, four of which were earned, on eight hits. He struck out eight batters and improved to 2-2 on the season.

Whitten pitched the final two innings and allowed just one hit.

Georgetown used six pitchers in the game. The loss went to Tommy Isaacs.

Maine plays Rollins at 6 p.m. Saturday.

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