Outdoor Track & Field Tunes Up For Conference Championships With Solid Performances At Connecticut College Silfen Invitational
MASSACHUSETTS MARITIME OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD
Connecticut College Silfen Invitational
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Silfen Track, New London, Conn.
NEW LONDON, Conn. -- The Massachusetts Maritime outdoor track & field team returned to action on Saturday afternoon with another solid day of competition at the Connecticut College Silfen Invitational, as the Buccaneer men finished seventh of 19 teams entered while the Buccaneer women’s squad scored once again in the 18 team field.
Senior Rory O’Donnell (Somerset, Mass.) took top honors in the triple jump (13.35 meters) and added third and seventh place performances in the high jump (1.78 meters) and long jump (5.87 meters), respectively, while junior Chris Sullo (Canton, Mass.) finished second in the high jump (1.81 meters) and third in the triple jump (12.26 meters). Freshman Robert Gratzer (Pembroke, Mass.) recorded a third place finish in the discus (40.14 meters) and added sixth place performance in the shot put (12.62 meters) for Massachusetts Maritime, which also received an eighth place finish from freshman Liz Leonardi (Sandwich, Mass.) in the 3,000 meter steeplechase (14:59.28).
Junior Kevin Quinn (Barrington, R.I.) and sophomore Rob Bergonzi (Quincy, Mass.) recorded respective 10th place finishes in the hammer throw (37.62 meters) and 3,000 meter steeplechase (12:01.58) for the Buccaneers, who also received 10th place performances from juniors Stephen Downs (Marshfield, Mass.) and Stephanie Lee (Acton, Mass.) in the long jump with respective marks of 5.78 and 3.63 meters. Sophomore Laura Spalt (Harwichport, Mass.) recorded the other 10th place finish of the day in the 100 meter hurdles with a time of 19.07.
Massachusetts Maritime recorded three top seven finishes in relay events on the day, as the tandem of senior Joseph Choiniere (Mansfield, Mass.), junior Mike Bois (Lakeville, Mass.) and sophomores Michael Temple (Weymouth, Mass.) and Laurence Tagger (Bourne, Mass.) placed fifth in the 4 X 100 meter relay with a time of 46.56. Seniors Anthony Venterosa (Stoughton, Mass.) and Jon White (Lynnfield, Mass.) teamed up with sophomores Gabriel Bermudez (Guaynabo, P.R.) and Evan Balderelli (Brimfield, Mass.) to finish sixth in the 4 X 400 meter relay with a time of 3:38.73, while the quartet of seniors Jason McWhiter (Melvin Village, N.H.), Matt Nadell (Whitman, Mass.) and Brian Reske (Duxbury, Mass.), along with freshman Kevin Griffin (Stoneham, Mass.), finished seventh in the 4 X 800 meter relay with a time of 9:21.63.
Coast Guard took top honors in the men’s competition with a team score of 141 points, while host Connecticut College claimed the crown on the women’s side.
The Buccaneers will travel to Fitchburg, Mass. next Saturday morning to compete for their respective Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference and New England Alliance Championships at Fitchburg State’s Elliot Athletic Complex beginning at 11:00 a.m.