Men’s Track and Field team dominates at BU Invitational
MIT Engineers prepare for NEWMAC championship
This weekend, the No. 14 ranked MIT Men’s Track and Field team competed in a pair of nonscoring invitational meets, one at home and another across the river at Boston University. The Engineers were focused on posting strong individual performances just a week ahead of the New England Division III championship.
The Tech relays accomplished this goal and more at the very fast BU track on Saturday. The 4x400 relay of junior Patrick K. Marx, sophomores Tyler S. Singer-Clark and Brian M. Gager, and freshman Nicholas A. Diamantoni finished in 3:18.75, their best on the season and the third-fastest in Division III on the season.
Marx also joined David H. Way ’13, Justin L. Bullock ’14, and Chadd T. Kiggins ’15 in the distance medley relay, placing fifth overall with a time of 9:55.71. Their season-best time ranks third in the country this season.
Kyle J. Hannon ’13 set a new personal best in the mile, finishing in 4:09.79, the second-fastest time in Institute history and the fourth in Division III this year.
Marx completed his busy afternoon in the 800-meter, running a season-best of 1:52.86, which ranks him fifth on the NCAA performance list. Kiggins reached a new personal best in the event, finishing in 1:54.57, which would be good for 17th in the country.
Gager and Way had personal best times at 500 meters. Gager was 15th overall at 1:05.99 while Way was not far behind, coming through in 1:06.21. Bullock, 2:28.20, and senior Stephen R. Serene, 2:30.09, also recorded personal bests in the 1000-meter.
Joshua D. Duncavage ’13 and Singer-Clark each ran well in the 200-meter, with times of 22.60 seconds and 23.04 seconds, respectively. Singer-Clark came back in the 400, recording a season best at 50.08 seconds.
Senior Nathan E. Peterson placed second in the pole vault, clearing 15-3 feet. Benjamin J. Schreck ’15 cleared 14-1 1/4 feet as well.
Back at home, some of the highlights included Chinedum K. Umachi ’12 winning the weight throw with a 63-7-foot effort, a season-best and good for fourth-place in the NCAA. Matthew D. Falk ’12 led a group of three Engineers to finish in the top five of the high jump. Falk cleared 6-3 1/4 feet to finish second. John B. Thomas ’15 was third and Sheldon N. Trotman ’15 placed fifth. Trotman also took fourth-place in the long jump at 19 3/4 feet.
The Engineers will look to win their third straight regional title at next weekend’s New England Division III championship at Springfield College. Tech passed Williams College in the final event last year to capture the team championship.