April 27, 2009

Junior Robert Liekweg (Salem, NH) won the 400 meter hurdles to lead the UMass Lowell men's track and field team at the Brown University Springtime Invitational Sunday at Brown Stadium.

The Invitational drew athletes from all three NCAA divisions as well as those representing postgraduate track and field clubs from the Northeast and Canada.

Liekweg was among three River Hawks in the top five places as sophomore Matt Blazon (Lowell, MA) placed fourth in 55.88 seconds and junior Justin Oliver (Lowell, MA) fifth in 55.96.

On Friday, Liekweg ran a 49.5-second leg on UMass Lowell's 4X400 meter relay team, which placed third among Division II and III teams (29th overall) at the Penn Relays.

Oliver also ran a 49.9-second leg on UMass Lowell's 4X400 meter relay `B' team at Brown, which took third in 3:25.10. Joining him was freshman Mark Paquette (Dracut, MA), who ran a 51.1-second leg; freshman Josh Schussler (Wilbraham, MA) a 52.3-second split; and senior Robert Fernandez (Mansfield, MA) a 51.3 leg.

Junior William Nguidjoi (Lawrence, MA) enjoyed a stellar day, placing second in the triple jump with a distance of 44 feet, 4.75 inches, just behind Reginald Cole of Brown (48' 11.75'').

Nguidjoi also took ninth overall (third) in the long jump with a leap of 20' 7.0''.

Other results included that of freshman Giovanni Frias (Lawrence, MA), who placed seventh (second) in the high jump, clearing 6' 3.25''; and ninth (third) in 110 hurdles in 16.50 seconds.

UMass Lowell hosts the Northeast-10 Conference Championship Saturday at the Cushing Field Complex.