NEW ORLEANS – Taylor DenBleyker (Bayville, N.J./Central Regional) and David Thomas (Taneytown, Md./Frostburg State) of the University of New Haven men’s track and field team have been recognized as All-East Region by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. DenBleyker was lauded for his performance in the 400-meter hurdles, while Thomas garnered honors in four events.
 
The USTFCCCA defines all-region as the top five from each region in individual events and each member of the top-three relay teams from each region.
 
DenBleyker capped his rookie season with a time of 55.44 seconds in the 400-meter hurdles at the Northeast-10 Outdoor Track & Field Championships. His mark was good for second place at the conference meet and qualified the freshman for the New England Championship, though he did not compete. DenBleyker’s time was the fourth-fastest by an NE-10 student-athlete this spring and was the top performance by a freshman in the 400-meter hurdles by more than four seconds.
 
Thomas added four All-East nods to his outstanding final campaign with the Chargers. He was recognized in the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash, long jump and triple jump – one of just 11 male student-athletes in all of Division II to garner four or more all-region distinctions. Thomas was the Northeast-10 and New England Champion in the 100-meter dash and also claimed conference crowns in the 200-meter dash and long jump en route to being selected as both the NE-10 Outdoor Athlete of the Year and Most Valuable Athlete of the championship meet. Thomas, who will compete for a national title in the long jump this weekend, also placed fourth in the triple jump at the NE-10 Championships despite performing in the event for just the second time in his collegiate career. The University’s Male co-Athlete of the Year, Thomas owns three New Haven program records.

2013 USTFCCCA All-East Region

Taylor DenBleyker	400 Meter Hurdles
David Thomas	100 Meters
David Thomas	200 Meters
David Thomas	Long Jump
David Thomas	Triple Jump