DMR Posts Impressive Performance at Cupid Invitational

(2/19/2014 7:03 AM) Full Results

This past weekend, Tufts hosted their final regular season meet of indoors, the Tufts Cupid Invitational. The USTFCCCA deemed it the “meet of the weekend” due to both regional rivalries that would blossom at the meet and due to the strength of teams competing. One such event that allowed the USTFCCCA to award Tufts this honor was the Distance Medley Relay, which ended up becoming one of the deepest DMRs to ever take place in Division 3 history.

In this DMR, which showcased top ranked teams such as Central College, who flew all the way out from Iowa to take on the competition at this meet, Tufts took 2nd as 7 of the top 8 times in the country were set.

Mitch Black ’16 ran the 1200 meter leg for the Jumbos. An 800 meter specialist, Black handed off the baton to Graham Beutler ’14 tight with the other squads, running a 3:01 split. Beutler then gapped the field in his leg, the 400 meters, splitting 49.1 before handing off to Veer Bhalla ’16, the 800 meter leg. Bhalla increased the Jumbo lead in the race by posting a 1:54 split before handing off to tri-captain Jamie Norton 14, who then anchored the 1600 meter leg in a 4:13. Norton fought ferociously on the final lap and was just outkicked by Haverford. Tufts posted a U.S No. 2 time of 9:58.17 on Gantcher’s flat track, which converts down to about 9:50.16 on a banked track.

Tufts rested many of their top sprinters or raced them in only one event, but Alex Kasemir ’16 was able to manage a 7th place finish in the 600 meter run, as he posted a solid time of 1:23.67 to qualify for both DIII New Englands and ECACs.

In the distance events, Alex Apostolides ’16 was able to manage a sub-2 clocking on Gantcher’s flat track as he took 6th in the event in 1:58.20. Joe St. Pierre ’15 made his collegiate 800 meter debut and finished in a respectable 14th place with a time of 2:02.81.

In the 3000 meters, 6 Jumbos were able to break 9 minutes, as tri-captain Ben Wallis ’14 led the way for the Jumbos with a 3rd place finish in 8:37.31. Classmate Andrew Shapero ’14 was right behind Wallis, as he took 4th in 8:38.44. Liam Cassidy ’14 took 8th in 8:44.11, Marshall Pagano ’15 took 11th in 8:49.14, Sam Garfield ’15 took 14th in 8:54.03, and Brian McLaughlin ’14 took 15th in 8:55.34.

Perhaps one of the highlights for the day came in the men’s 5000 meters. Mike Curley ’16 fought through the grueling 3.1 mile race to finish 8th in 15:26.96, a DIII and ECAC qualifying mark as well as a big PR by over half a minute.

Pietro Possenti ’17 continued to solidify his place as one of the top pole vaulters on the Jumbo squad as he vaulted 4.15 meters (13’7.25”) for 6th place. Likewise, Jarad Asselin ’17 was also able to take 6th in his event: the high jump. Asselin jumped 1.83 meters (6’0”) to place in the event.Brian Williamson ’15, a shot put specialist, was able to qualify for Div. 3 New Englands with his 14.49 meter (47’6.5”) heave in the weight throw.

The U.S No. 7 Jumbos will next travel across the Charles to MIT for the Division 3 New England Championships, which will be held next Friday and Saturday. Tufts comes into the meet as underdogs, but they will be looking to post some event wins and get an upset over the Engineers.


Full Results