Junior Jonas Mack was one of two medal winners for the Prairie Fire at the 2012 Midwest Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships on May 11 and 12 at St. Norbert College.
Mack placed second in the javelin with a throw of 162’ 3” or 49.46 meters. He improved his previous best distance by over 17 meters and ranks fourth on the all-time performance and individual lists in the javelin.
Along with the javelin, Mack had personal-best efforts in the long jump and the 100 meter dash. He also ran a leg in two relays that resulted in points for the Knox men’s team.
For his efforts, Mack is the winner of the final Prairie Fire Performer of the Week Award of the 2011-2012 athletic year.
Mack teamed up with junior Joe Puntoriero (Cheektowaga, New York, Cleveland Hill), and sophomores Bobby Mueller (Woodridge, IL, Downers Grove South) and Matt Brongo (Eureka, IL, Eureka) in the 4x400 meter relay that placed sixth. Mack, Puntoriero, sophomore Aramis McGinty (Colorado Springs, CO, Mesa Ridge), and first-year runner Jamar Herbert (Arvada, CO, Pomona) ran the 4x100 meter relay that finished in seventh place.
The Prairie Fire scored 42 points and placed eighth at this year's meet.
The fifth through ninth place teams were separated by just 15.5 points. Knox finished 2.5 points behind seventh place Illinois College (44.5), eight points behind sixth place Lawrence University (50), and only 10.5 points separated Knox and fifth place Grinnell College (52.5). Beloit College was ninth in the team standings with 37 points.
The men’s outdoor track and field team won three Prairie Fire Performer of the Week awards this year. The other recipients were sophomore Weston Chenoweth (Canton, IL, Canton) on April 11 and Puntoriero on April 4.
