Photo by: Jeff Reinking | Louisville Athletics
Binelas, Brown Share Omaha Challenge Title
November 27, 2019 | Baseball
Binelas won the medley on the final day to share the individual crown with Brown.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Co-champions were crowned for the first time, as sophomore Alex Binelas and junior Luke Brown shared the top spot in the University of Louisville baseball team's 14th annual Omaha Challenge.
Binelas won the medley and finished in the top five in the tire flip and 400-meter run to finish with 267 points overall. Brown was extremely consistent throughout the competition, finishing inside the top 12 in all six individual events to match the 267 final point tally. Freshman Tyeler Hawkins and sophomore Levi Usher each totaled 258 points and tied for third, while senior Adam Elliott rounded out the top five with 239 points.
After 12 events, the team competition came down to a narrow four-point margin with Brown and the Red Team, captained by junior Ben Bianco, coming out with the narrow victory. Joining Bianco and Brown on the Red Team were Luke Smith, Gavin Sullivan, Bobby Miller, Reid Detmers, Ben Metzinger, Dalton Rushing, Adam Elliott, Trey Leonard, Michael Prosecky, Chris Seng, Cameron Masterman, Wyatt Stevenson, Ryan Hawks, Kerry Wright, Drew Wiegman, Bobby Whalen, Duncan Hall, Shane Harris and Blayne Robinson.
The 2019 Omaha Challenge got underway the morning of Nov. 18 with the 2,100-yard shuttle run, won for the second straight year by sophomore Ben Metzinger in a time of 8:05.85, followed by paintball in the afternoon, where the Black Team triumphed.
Following squat testing (Nov. 19), the Red Team notched wins in dodgeball and the truck push (Nov. 21) sandwiched around a Black Team victory in the tug-o-war. The opening week concluded with Levi Usher taking home the top spot in the tire flip (Nov. 22) with a time of 59.22 seconds and the Black Team edging out a win in the bike race (Nov. 23).
Freshman Bobby Whalen was the fastest in the pool on Monday, completing the 100 meters in 1:16.67. Junior Trey Leonard repeated as the champion of the 400-meter run in 54.02 seconds and senior Justin Lavey posted a time of 2:52.34 to capture the towel hang.
The challenge wrapped up on Tuesday with Binelas running away with the top spot in the medley in a time of 1:49.50.
The Omaha Challenge concludes a busy fall semester for Louisville players, who will now look to have a strong finish in the classroom as final exams begin on Dec. 4.
ABOUT THE OMAHA CHALLENGE
Soon after being hired to lead the Cardinals, McDonnell introduced an intense test of physical and mental stamina during his first fall at the University of Louisville with what he refers to as the Omaha Challenge. Two captains are selected and teams are drafted to compete against one another in a series of events testing the athleticism of the teams and the individuals, with a team crown and an individual champion to be named at the conclusion. Sports performance coach Zach Farrel oversees the intense competition, while also motivating his charges to extend themselves to their limits.
2020 LOUISVILLE BASEBALL SEASON TICKETS
The 2020 reserved chairback ticket packages, which include one ticket to each of the 17 ticketed games, are priced at $110 for adults, $90 for senior adults/youths and $90 for families of four or more. Season tickets for the Left Field Berm are also available at $50 per ticket. Season tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online here, by calling 502-GO-CARDS or by visiting the Louisville Cardinals Ticket Office, located near Gate 2 at Cardinal Stadium (2800 South Floyd Street) on weekdays from 9 a.m., until 5 p.m., ET. Complete details on 2020 UofL baseball tickets can be found at gocards.com/bsbtickets.
The season ticket package covers weekend series against ACC foes Notre Dame, Virginia, Clemson, NC State and Virginia Tech, in addition to non-conference games against Kentucky and Indiana.
FOLLOW LOUISVILLE BASEBALL ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans can follow Louisville baseball on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram at @LouisvilleBSB.
Binelas won the medley and finished in the top five in the tire flip and 400-meter run to finish with 267 points overall. Brown was extremely consistent throughout the competition, finishing inside the top 12 in all six individual events to match the 267 final point tally. Freshman Tyeler Hawkins and sophomore Levi Usher each totaled 258 points and tied for third, while senior Adam Elliott rounded out the top five with 239 points.
After 12 events, the team competition came down to a narrow four-point margin with Brown and the Red Team, captained by junior Ben Bianco, coming out with the narrow victory. Joining Bianco and Brown on the Red Team were Luke Smith, Gavin Sullivan, Bobby Miller, Reid Detmers, Ben Metzinger, Dalton Rushing, Adam Elliott, Trey Leonard, Michael Prosecky, Chris Seng, Cameron Masterman, Wyatt Stevenson, Ryan Hawks, Kerry Wright, Drew Wiegman, Bobby Whalen, Duncan Hall, Shane Harris and Blayne Robinson.
The 2019 Omaha Challenge got underway the morning of Nov. 18 with the 2,100-yard shuttle run, won for the second straight year by sophomore Ben Metzinger in a time of 8:05.85, followed by paintball in the afternoon, where the Black Team triumphed.
Following squat testing (Nov. 19), the Red Team notched wins in dodgeball and the truck push (Nov. 21) sandwiched around a Black Team victory in the tug-o-war. The opening week concluded with Levi Usher taking home the top spot in the tire flip (Nov. 22) with a time of 59.22 seconds and the Black Team edging out a win in the bike race (Nov. 23).
Freshman Bobby Whalen was the fastest in the pool on Monday, completing the 100 meters in 1:16.67. Junior Trey Leonard repeated as the champion of the 400-meter run in 54.02 seconds and senior Justin Lavey posted a time of 2:52.34 to capture the towel hang.
The challenge wrapped up on Tuesday with Binelas running away with the top spot in the medley in a time of 1:49.50.
The Omaha Challenge concludes a busy fall semester for Louisville players, who will now look to have a strong finish in the classroom as final exams begin on Dec. 4.
ABOUT THE OMAHA CHALLENGE
Soon after being hired to lead the Cardinals, McDonnell introduced an intense test of physical and mental stamina during his first fall at the University of Louisville with what he refers to as the Omaha Challenge. Two captains are selected and teams are drafted to compete against one another in a series of events testing the athleticism of the teams and the individuals, with a team crown and an individual champion to be named at the conclusion. Sports performance coach Zach Farrel oversees the intense competition, while also motivating his charges to extend themselves to their limits.
2020 LOUISVILLE BASEBALL SEASON TICKETS
The 2020 reserved chairback ticket packages, which include one ticket to each of the 17 ticketed games, are priced at $110 for adults, $90 for senior adults/youths and $90 for families of four or more. Season tickets for the Left Field Berm are also available at $50 per ticket. Season tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online here, by calling 502-GO-CARDS or by visiting the Louisville Cardinals Ticket Office, located near Gate 2 at Cardinal Stadium (2800 South Floyd Street) on weekdays from 9 a.m., until 5 p.m., ET. Complete details on 2020 UofL baseball tickets can be found at gocards.com/bsbtickets.
The season ticket package covers weekend series against ACC foes Notre Dame, Virginia, Clemson, NC State and Virginia Tech, in addition to non-conference games against Kentucky and Indiana.
FOLLOW LOUISVILLE BASEBALL ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans can follow Louisville baseball on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram at @LouisvilleBSB.
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