Two Wins Highlight PR-filled Opens

(5/26/2015 12:09 PM) Full Results

The Jumbos returned to cross-town rival MIT for the Open New England Championships, where athletes compete from DI, DII, and DIII schools across the region. Junior Mitchell Black reset his school record in the 800m (1:49.83), and Sophomore Luke O'Connor continued his winning ways in the Steeplechase, as those two individual victories led the way for Tufts to defeat MIT and place seventh overall, second to only Williams among all DIII schools.

O'Connor crossed the line in 9:11.96, a tenth ahead of second place and moving him closer to the upper echelon of all-time Jumbo distance hurdlers. Freshman Ty Enos joined him in winning his own heat, running 9:33.08 to distance himself by 7 seconds from the next competitor and launch into the top tier of rookie steeplers. Junior Nick Adams also broke the 10-minute barrier for the first time (9:56.36), PR'ing by over 25 seconds in what is certainly the best race of his Jumbo track career.

The distance squad got the ball rolling on Friday night with the 10K, as all three runners PR'ed to close out their seasons. Senior Nick Guarnaccia selflessly took out the first 5K for teammate Tim Nichols, setting an even 15:30 tone to get him well on his was under 31 minutes. Nichols finished second in 30:55, putting him on Tufts' top ten list for the event and within a couple of seconds of qualifying for NCAAs. Only a sophomore, to break 31 is a stellar achievement. Senior classmates Greg Hardy and Colin McCrory chopped time of their previous bests to both finish under 32 minutes, a great note on which to end their careers.

Stefan Duvivier provided the highlight among the field events, clearing 1.94m (6'4.5") to continue his impressive rookie campaign. Senior Alex Karys also PR'ed in the Decathlon, in the final competition of his career. He welcomed sophomore Tommy Wang to the ranks of multi athletes, as he finished his first decathlon in just under 5,000 points. The 4x400m relay put an exclamation point on the meet, as the squad of juniors Alex Kasemir and Mitchell Black, sophomore Nick Usoff, and rookie Drew DiMaiti ran a 3:15.22 to earn them the second-fastest time in school history.

Next up the Jumbos will travel west to Springfield College for the ECAC championships.


Full Results