DES MOINES, Iowa – University of Evansville senior Joey Rucinski (Ft. Wayne, Ind./Concordia Lutheran) placed sixth Friday in the pole vault competition, while also advancing to the finals of the javelin and setting three personal-best marks overall to help pace the Purple Aces track and field teams on the first day of the Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Championships in Des Moines, Iowa.
While in the midst of competing in the decathlon's opening day, Rucinski was able to clear a height of 4.30 meters (14'1.25") in the pole vault to place sixth in the Valley. Rucinski then went immediately to the track and turned a personal-best time of 52.