Jan. 11, 2009

Results

HANOVER, NH - Ruben Sanca (Boston, MA) placed third overall and posted the fastest time in the country in the 3,000 meters to lead the UMass Lowell men's track and field team at the Dartmouth Relays Sunday at the Leverone Field House.

The meet, which kicked off the second semester, drew athletes from all three NCAA divisions as well as many athletes representing postgraduate track and field clubs from New England and Canada.

The River Hawks compiled 47 points and placed second among 28 teams and clubs. The host Big Green won the team title with 114 points while the University of Ottawa placed third with 46 points and Boston College and Keene State tied for fourth with 34 points.

Sanca won the 3,000 meters with a time of 8:09.05 - the second-fastest time in UMass Lowell history - and was among four River Hawks in the top 11 places.

Senior Joey DeWitt (Ellsworth, ME) placed fifth in 8:30.01 while sophomore Angus MacDonald (Methuen, MA) took sixth in 8:31.29 and junior Tim Guerin (Auburn, MA) 11th overall (fourth among Division II runners) in 8:41.93.

Freshman Shaddi Ali (Stoneham, MA) was UMass Lowell's sole champion on the day, as he captured the high jump with a leap of 6 feet, 8 inches. Freshman Giovanni Frias (Lawrence, MA) took third overall, clearing 6' 4.0''.

Sophomore Donte Brown (Brockton, MA) became the latest athlete to provisionally qualify for the NCAA Championship as he placed second overall and tops among U.S. collegians with a time of 49.08 seconds.

Brown placed just behind Mike Robertson of the University of Ottawa (48.91) and was among three River Hawks in the top seven places. Sophomore Sam Bastien (Canton, MA) took third in 50.09, and junior Justin Oliver (Lowell, MA) seventh (fourth among Division II runners) in 51:15. Sophomore Cory Murray (Methuen, MA) emerged tops among collegians in the shot put (fourth overall) with a throw of 48' 2.5''. Junior William Nguidjoi (Lawrence, MA) topped the Division II field (seventh overall) in the long jump (20' 4.25'') and placed second (eighth) in the triple jump (41' 6.5'').

Freshman Chris Pendleton (Amesbury, MA) placed eighth (second) in the long jump with a distance of 19' 11.0''.

The sole Division II athlete in the heptathlon, sophomore Matt Blazon (Lowell, MA) placed fourth with 4,346 points. Blazon finished in the top five places in four events, highlighting by capturing the 60 meter hurdles (8.91) and placing third in the 1,000 meters (2:46.99), fourth in the pole vault (11' 5.75'') and fifth in the shot put (32' 5.00').

UMass Lowell competes at the Tufts Jumbo Invitational next Saturday.