March 29, 2009

Junior Doug Caves (Oxford, MA) and sophomore Donte Brown (Raynham, MA) each captured events to lead the UMass Lowell men’s track and field team at the Trinity College Bantam Invitational Saturday afternoon.

The non-scoring meet drew teams from all three NCAA divisions.

Caves won the 400 meter dash in 47.43 seconds and improved his standing on the NCAA Division II list from second place to first. Caves qualified in the 400 last week at the Coastal Carolina Shamrock Invitational with a time of 47.56 seconds.

Freshman Jeff Wundt (Southwick, MA) placed fourth in the 400 in 50.32 seconds.

Brown, who earned All-American honors in the indoor 400 meter dash two weeks ago, met the NCAA provisional qualifying standard in the 400 meter hurdles as he won the event in 52.25 seconds, currently the second-fastest time in the country.

Brown led three River Hawks in the top three places as junior Robert Liekweg (Salem, NH) placed second in 53.50 seconds and junior Justin Oliver (Lowell, MA) third in 57.40 seconds. Liekweg also placed fourth in the javelin with a distance of 157 feet, 0.5 inches.

Caves and Brown were among five individual winners for UMass Lowell. Sophomore Cory Murray (Methuen, MA) captured the shot put with an effort of 49’ 3.5’’.

Freshman Shaddi Ali (Stoneham, MA) won the high jump, clearing 6’ 1.5’’ while freshman Giovanni Frias (Lawrence, MA) placed fifth, clearing 5’ 11.5’’. Frias also took third in the 110 meter hurdles in 16.41 seconds.

Sophomore Sean Gelinas (Northwood, NH) won the 3,000 meter steeplechase with a time of 9:46.91, edging junior teammate Steve O’Brien (Groton, MA), who took second in 9:53.05.

Freshman Sean LeBeau (Auburn, MA) was the runner-up in the pole vault, clearing 10’ 6.25’’.

Freshman Jeff Veiga (Lowell, MA) was among two UMass Lowell runners in the top 10 in the 1,500 meters. Veiga placed third in 4:06.82 while senior Jack Kilcommons (South Boston, MA) placed ninth in 4:11.54.

Other results included that of freshman Chris Pendleton (Amesbury, MA) who placed third in the long jump (20’ 6.25’’); and freshman Eric McDonald (Groveland, MA), who took fourth in the 800 meters (1:59.25).

UMass Lowell enters the Stonehill Invitational next Saturday.