Fitchburg State Shines at Harvard's GBTC Invitational

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – The Fitchburg State men's indoor track and field team had an outstanding day the 2016 Greater Boston Track Club Invitational this afternoon, hosted by Harvard University.

The distance crew in the 3000 meter got the Falcons rolling. Junior Brian Amaral ran 8:48.40 for a fifth-place finish overall and a MASCAC and D3 qualifying time. Sophomore Jake Hastings won his heat in 8:52.52, also a MASCAC and D3 qualifying time. Freshmen Anthony Darrigo and Joseph Darrigo were MASCAC qualifiers as well, with times of 9:10.88 and 9:18.75, respectively.

In the 60 meter hurdle event, freshman Cameron Stalters placed fourth in 8.89, while sophomore Chavinskee Milcent finished fifth in 8.92. Both times qualified for postseason. Milcent was also third in high jump at 1.95 meters and third in long jump at 6.65 meters, both good enough to qualify for MASCAC and D3 postseason competition.

Sophomore Timothy Breen placed second in the pole vault in a MASCAC and D3 qualifying height of 4.15 meters.

Junior Nicholas Levenson ran the 400m in a MASCAC qualifying time of 52.56, while in the 600m, junior Chauncey Beatty was second with a MASCAC and D3 qualifying time of 1:24.32; senior Richard Ethier, IV finished with a MASCAC qualifying time of 1:27.12; and freshman Austin Landress also posted a conference-qualifying time of 1:33.55.

In the 800m, junior Matthew Cuomo was the top finisher at 2:02.13, and classmate Brandon Hannon ran in 2:11.35. Both were MASCAC qualifying times. In the 1000m, senior Michael Martin was a conference qualifier at 2:53.45, as was sophomore Ryain MacLean, who posted a personal best 2:55.89.

Senior Akhiel Willis had a triple jump distance of 12.99 meters, good for third and a D3 and MASCAC berth. In the shot put, Joseph Bernardini recorded a fourth-place distance of 11.32m and freshman Brendon Courtney placed fifth with a distance of 11.30m, both good for conference qualifying. In the high jump, sophomore Ben Sattiewhite was second at 2.00 meters.

The Falcons placed second in the 4x400 relay, as Levenson, Landress, Ethier and Beatty finished in 3:32, good enough to qualify for both MASCAC and D3 championships.

The Fitchburg State men's indoor track and field team will be back in action on Saturday at they compete in the 2015-16 Tufts Stampede, hosted by Tufts University at 11 a.m.