BOSTON–Wrapping up two days of competition at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational hosted by Boston University, the UMass Lowell men's track and field program picked up where their fellow River Hawks left off with another round of record-breaking performances.
 
"We had two school records fall today," remarked Head Coach Gary Gardner.
 
Leading the way for UMass Lowell, graduate student Noah Bellomo (Hudson, N.H.) captured fifth place in the men's 1,000 meter. His 2:22.05 finishing time set a new program record, smashing the previous 2:24.37 mark set in 2014 by Omar Abdi. Bellomo's new UMass Lowell best also marked a career high for the veteran distance runner, who shaved over two seconds off his record.
 
"Noah set the school record in the 1,000 meter with his time," commented Gardner. "He has worked so hard the past few years, and it all came together today."
 
Graduate students Christopher Alfond (Ashby, Mass.) and Derek Holmes (Marshfield, Mass.) joined their classmate and distance competitor Bellomo with new career milestones of their own in the men's 3,000 meter. With finishing times of 7:55.54 and 7:55.90, respectively, Alfond and Holmes both overtook the previous program record of 7:58.00 set in 2019 by Paul Hogan.
 
"Chris and Derek both ran under Paul Hogan's school record. Anytime you do that, it's an outstanding effort," said Gardner.
 
Edging out his teammate by fractions of a second, Alfond's time earned him a spot atop the River Hawks' record book and shredded his last mark of 8:08.61.
 
"I'm so happy for Chris to set a school record. He's been the backbone of our program," stated Gardner.
 
On top of a pair of brand new program records, several River Hawks picked up personal bests at the BU Track & Tennis Center. In the men's 60-meter hurdle open, sophomore Nicholas Woolsey (Pepperell, Mass.) surpassed his fastest career mark in the event to pick up a new best of 8.88 and place 12th overall.
 
Graduate student Cody Moran (Weymouth, Mass.) shaved a second off his fastest time in the men's 1,000 meter, crossing in 2:26.37 to place 10th overall.
 
Representing the River Hawks in the field, junior Evans Oduro (Kumasi, Ghana) continued his impressive indoor campaign with a second-place finish in the long jump with a 6.85m (22'5.75") leap. Sophomore Maxwell Davis (Stoneham, Mass.) closed out the weekend clearing a new career-best 4.40m (14'5.25") mark to finish 11th in the pole vault.
 
The River Hawks travel north next Saturday, Feb. 19, to take on New Hampshire at the Paul Sweet Oval in Durham, N.H.