Feb. 9, 2009

Sophomore Cory Murray (Methuen, MA) and junior Justin Oliver (Lowell, MA) each won titles to lead the UMass Lowell men’s track and field team at the Tufts University Stampede Saturday at the Gantcher Sports and Convocation Center.

The non-scoring meet drew colleges and athletes from all three NCAA Divisions.

Murray, capturing his second shot put title of the season, threw for a season-best distance of 51 feet, 1.5 inches, just outside the NCAA provisional qualifying mark of 52 feet, and bested the remainder of the field by more than two feet.

Oliver won the 600 meters with a time of 1:24.07 and was one of three River Hawk sprinters in the top six places. Junior Robert Liekweg (Salem, NH) placed third in 1:24.69 while sophomore Brody Griffiths (Woburn, MA) took sixth in 1:25.82.

Junior Tim Guerin (Auburn, MA) stood out in both the mile and the 4X800 meter relay. Guerin placed second in the mile with a time of 4:23.78 and also ran a 2:01.60 leg in the 4X800 to lift the River Hawks to second in 7:56.84.

Joining Guerin was freshman Danny Wang (Haverhill, MA), who ran a 1:59.10 leg; sophomore Sean Gelinas (Northwood, NH), who ran a 1:59.60 split; and senior Joey DeWitt (Ellsworth, ME), who anchored with a 1:56.70 leg.

Gelinas also placed 10th in the 800 meters in 1:58.34.

Junior William Nguidjoi (Lawrence, MA) also shined in two events, placing second in the long jump (21’ 0.75’’) and third in the triple jump (44’ 3.25’’). Freshman Chris Pendleton (Amesbury, MA) placed eighth in the long jump (20’ 0.5’’).

Freshman Shaddi Ali (Stoneham, MA) took third in the high jump, clearing 6’ 3.25’’ and fifth in the triple with a distance of 42’ 4.25’’. Freshman Giovanni Frias (Lawrence, MA) took seventh in the triple with a leap of 41’ 8.0’’.

Sophomore Matt Blazon (Lowell, MA) placed second in the 55 meter hurdles in 8.01 seconds and eighth in the high jump, clearing 5’ 9.25’’.

Other stellar results included that of senior Jack Kilcommons (South Boston, MA), who placed fifth in the 3,000 meters (9:00.40); junior Steve O’Brien (Groton, MA), who took eighth in the 3,000 (9:06.77); freshman Jeff Veiga (Lowell, MA), who placed 10th in the mile (4:29.97); and freshman Sean LeBeau (Auburn, MA), who placed 10th in the pole vault (12’ 4.25’’).

UMass Lowell enters the FasTrack Invitational next Friday and Saturday at Boston University.