Strong Sprints, Field Events Propel Men's Indoor Track To Third At MASCACs

Gorham, ME --- Junior Terrence Gibson (Rockland, MA) highlighted six top performances for the men's indoor track team who placed third overall at the MASCAC Championships on Saturday evening hosted by Southern Maine.

Westfield State earned the win with 170 points to outpace Bridgewater State (157) and the Lancers final sum of 150 points. The Blue and Gold were just out of the running for the Alliance crown which was taken by UMass Dartmouth (116 points), who beat out the Bears (111), the hosting Huskies (101.5) and WSU's final total (97.5).

Gibson continued his outstanding campaign with the top MASCAC/Alliance split in the 55 meter dash (6.39) and 55 meter hurdles (7.56) as he wrapped things up with second overall among Alliance competitors in the 200 (22.32). For his efforts this week, Gibson was named Co-MASCAC Track Athlete of the Week and selected ECAC Division III New England Track Athlete of the Week.

With his outstanding time in the 55 meters, Gibson shoots up to a tie for fifth after a conversion to the 60 meter standard (6.87) for the best split in New England and it was only 0.07 off the top spot in Division III.  

Gibson also shattered the school record in the 55 meter hurdles, which was previously held by former standout Jason Monette (7.73) and set in 2005 at Yale. The 55 meter hurdle finish also set a new MASCAC/Alliance meet standard.

The 4x400 meter relay team of freshman Shane McKinley (Melrose, MA) at leadoff, junior Patrick Bova (Princeton, MA) second, senior Todd Paquin (Pelham, NH) third and junior Stephen Gannon (Foxboro, MA) clocked 3:36.71 to reset the previous MASCAC meet record with the top time that was also third in the Alliance.

Gannon was the MASCAC Champion in the 400 (50.48) with the second-fastest time in the Alliance, junior David Germain (Malden, MA) cleared the top height in the high jump (6-6.25/1.99 meters) to qualify for the Open New England's and junior Matthew Begley (E. Bridgewater, MA) had the best toss in the weight throw (50-0.50/15.25m) as the runner up in the Alliance.

Other strong field performances included Paquin and junior Duy Truong (Worcester, MA/Doherty) in the long jump who placed second (21-7.50/6.59m) and third (21-4.25/6.51m), respectively, freshman Sam Weeks (Methuen, MA) who claimed second in the shot put (44-2.5/13.47m) and junior Robert White (Ludlow, MA) as the MASCAC finalist in the weight throw (48-6.5/14.79m).

The 4x200 relay that was comprised of junior Shaun Corum (Billerica, MA) at leadoff, freshman Charles Newman (Westfield, MA) second, sophomore Ben Dussault (Assonet, MA) third and third-year Matthew Alley (Milford, MA) at anchor timed the second fastest time in the MASCAC (1:35.26).

Gannon also placed third in the 200 (22.97) to clock the fourth-fastest Alliance split while Bova put up third in the 800 (2:01.27) for the sixth-best Alliance time in a deep field.

Rafael added fourth in the 400 (52.04) followed by Truong who finished sixth in the 55 (6.71), Paquin added sixth in the 200 (23.33), McKinley who notched sixth in the 400 (53.15) and freshman John Mazur (Rutland, MA) registered sixth in the 800 (2:08.03).

Senior Andrew Johnson (Thompson, CT) was third in the high jump (6-6.25/1.99m) while junior Jason Sliwoski (Leicester, MA) finished fourth in both the 55 meter hurdles (8.47) and pole vault (13-1.50/4.00m) before he took sixth in the long jump (20-2.25/6.15m).

Sliwoski had the fourth-highest vault in the Alliance with a strong height before competing at the Division III New England Championships in the heptathlon next weekend at MIT.

Senior Steve Fleming (Ludlow, MA) recorded fifth in the pole vault followed by Truong's fifth place leap in the triple jump (40-6/12.34m) and senior Shawn McCabe (Mansfield, MA) finished sixth in the weight throw (43-11.75/13.40m).