LOWELL, Mass. – The UMass Lowell men's and women's track and field teams traveled to different locations Friday afternoon, competing in the Virginia Challenge and George Davis Invitational. 

Sophomore Jayani Santos (Tewksbury, Mass.) got the day started in Virginia in the 100m preliminary, finishing 43rd with a time of 12.19.

In the 3,000m steeplechase, graduate student Joe Young (Dorchester, Mass.) finished 22nd with a 9:31.35 mark, while senior Jan Wouter Van Den Akker (Groningen, Netherlands) led the way in the 5,000m, finishing in 11th place with a time of 14:07.93. Junior Sean Kennedy-Wonneberger (East Haddam, Conn.) also competed hard, finishing 18th with a time of 14:132.86.

Senior Graham Stedfast (Rowley, Mass.) shined in the 800m, finishing 12th with a personal record of 1:49.12.

"Graham continues his tear in the 800," commented Gardner.

At UMass Lowell, Joyce Nabagereka put on a show, claiming sixth in the hammer throw with a 40.98m mark. Junior Julia Loescher (Peabody, Mass.) was next, with a 37.55m mark. For the men, Joaquin Boldonado (West Haven, Conn.) finished 11th in the hammer throw, reaching 36.43m. 

For the shot put, junior Mukanya Kazadi (Woburn, Mass.) finished in second place with a 14.30m toss. Senior Ian Camerato (Mounyt Laurel, N.J.) was not far back, claiming seventh with a 13.81m mark. Junior Derek Munroe (Tewksbury, Mass.) finished eigth with a 13.80m mark. Riley (11th, 12.53m) and senior Luke Stelmach (Sterling, Mass.) (12th, 12.51m) finished the race in 11th and 12th place, respectively. 

The women's shot put was similar. Sophomore Nhyiras Nkansah (Chelmsford, Mass.) finished third with an 11.28m mark, while senior Fleur Balogh De Galantha (Grafton, Mass.) (5th, 10.64m) and Joyce Nabagereka 6th, 10.52m) are the next River Hawks to get the job done. Junior Paige Murphy (Billerica, Mass.) reached 9.46m, while Chloe Champagne (Brockton, Mass.) hit 6.85m for 22nd.