College Record For Track, Field Broken By Solon Resident

From Colby College: James Gibson of Solon was one of two Colby College students to break school records for men's track and field.

James Gibson broke the second-oldest Colby College record in the long jump and Sage Bailin broke a 20-year-old record in the 400-meter hurdles for the men's outdoor track and field team at the University of Southern New Hampshire Invitational on Saturday.

"On a day where the weather wasn't favorable for performances, both James and Sage completely demonstrated high levels of effort and execution," Colby head coach Dave Cusano said. "When records that have stood for 49 and 20 years respectively get broken, it's a testament to the student-athletes commitment to excellence being rewarded."

Gibson, a sophomore, had been inching up toward the 1969 record of 23-feet, 6-inches set by Rodney Braithwaite. Gibson, on his first leap of the day, went 23-8 to make the record his own. He decided to pass on his remaining jumps and won the event for the Mules. Gibson also placed fourth in the high jump (6-3.25).
Gibson was also honored as the New England Small College Athletic Conference Men's Track and Field Performer of the Week in field events.

Meanwhile, Bailin, a sophomore, came just shy in an earlier meet of breaking the 1998 record of 54.09 set by Tyrone Bouchard in the 400 hurdles. Bailin ran 54.03 to earn the victory and also finished fourth in the 110 hurdles (16.06) and fifth in the triple jump (42-4).

Founded in 1813, Colby is one of America's most selective colleges. Serving only undergraduates, Colby offers a rigorous academic program rooted in deep exploration of ideas and close interaction with world-class faculty scholars. Students pursue intellectual passions, choosing among 58 majors or developing their own. Colby's innovative and ambitious campaign, Dare Northward, will support deeper connections between the College and the world and a fully inclusive experience for all Colby students. Colby is home to a community of 2,000 dedicated and diverse students from more than 80 countries. Its Waterville, Maine, location provides unique access to world-class research institutions and civic engagement experiences.

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