George Davis Invitational Results | Mike Rutt Interview

LOWELL, Mass. – River Hawk sprinters took center stage, Saturday at the Cushing Field Complex, as UMass Lowell athletes turned in a series of strong performances at the George Davis Invitational.

"I think we are in a good spot," according to UMass Lowell Assistant Coach Mike Rutt.  "There is more progress to be made, some fine tuning to do, but I like where we are."

The day was also an opportunity for UMass Lowell athletes to perform in front of a home crowd.  The George Davis Invitational, named for the coach who founded what would become the track and field program in 1970, is one of just two home meets on the schedule.  The senior class of 32 athletes was honored before the track competition began.

"It's nice to have (the athletes) compete in front of their parents, family and friends," according to Rutt.  "The weather was good and they got to sleep in their own beds and not ride the bus for several hours before competing."

With the conference championships two weeks away, the meet is used to judge where the men's and women's teams are in their development during the season.

"I think we're in a good spot," said Rutt.  "You're seeing good performances in all of the different events."

UMass Lowell sprinters turned in a series of strong performances on both the men's and women's sides of the ledger.  Both James O'Brien (Stoneham, Mass.) and Nikayla Simpson (Brockton, Mass.) doubled up winning both the 100 and the 200-meters.

O'Brien turned in a personal best time of 10.64-seconds.  The time is the fastest turned in by an America East sprinter in the 100-meters this season.  The junior followed that up with a victory in the 200-meters, clocking in at 22.24-seconds.

In both events O'Brien was just a fraction ahead of senior teammate Richard Mulo (Malden, Mass.)  Mulo 16 one-hundredths of a second behind O'Brien in both the 100 and 200-meters posting times of 10.80 and 22.40 respectively.

Simpson had little breathing room as well.  She won the 100-meters in a time of 12.29-seconds.  Junior Leyshla Gonzalez (Lowell, Mass.) finished second, just a tenth of a second behind her teammate, hitting the finish line in a time of 12.39.  Freshman Amanda Andrews (Peabody, Mass.) was third, 12.59.

Simpson won the 200-meters in a time of 25.71-seconds.  In this case she was more than a second ahead of the rest of the field.

UMass Lowell men and women also took the 4 x 100 relay.  

For the men, Mulo, sophomore Brian Cherenfant (Taunton, Mass.), O'Brien and junior Hamza Naveed (Andover, Mass.) combined for a winning time of 41.85-seconds.

On the women's side, Andrews, Gonzalez, sophomores Cristina Galvagno (Newton, Mass.) and Kristin DeVellis (Framingham, Mass.) hung up a time of 48.16.

In the men's 400-meters sophomore David Cusack (Holden, Mass.) was the first across the finish line with a time of 51.26.

Senior Alyson Comeau (Gardner, Mass.) hit the finish line in 400-meter hurdles in a time of 1:02.96.  It was a personal best and good for a first place finish.  The time also qualifies Comeau for the ECAC Championships and is the second fastest time in the event by an America East hurdler.

"She had to fight the wind for the last 200-meters," said Rutt.  "She was able to do that and get a personal best.  That was terrific."

On the men's side, junior Connor Donovan (Methuen, Mass.) won the 400-meter hurdles in a time of 54.55.

In field events, UMass Lowell turned ion a series of strong performances.

Freshman Chloe Eressy (Centerville, Mass.) won the shot put with a throw of 45-feet, 10 1/2-inches.  It was her third time throwing for more than 45-feet and the first time that she has won a shot put competition.  Eressy also earned a third place finish in the discus with a heave of 130-feet, five-inches.  The throw was a personal best.

Junior Forrest Gyurcsik (Westford, Mass.) won the men's discus with a throw of 129' 3".

Senior Vladimir Popusoi (Greenfield, Mass.) won the pole vault clearing the bar at 15-feet, 11-inches.

Senior Rino Tonelli (Shrewsbury, Mass.) cleared the bar at six-feet, 7 1/2-inches to win the high jump.

Senior Mary Lou Ryder (Chelmsford, Mass.) won the long jump with a leap of 16-feet, 4 1/2-inches.  Ryder also finished third in the triple jump with a mark of 35-feet, three-inches.

Next weekend will find UMass Lowell athletes competing at a couple of locations.  Some will go to the Penn Relays in Philadelphia where competition will start on Thursday.  Others will attend the Pre-Conference Meet at New Hampshire.