WILLIMANTIC, Conn. – The Bridgewater State University men's outdoor track & field team captured the meet title at the 11th Annual Eastern Invitational hosted by Eastern Connecticut State University on Friday.
The Bears posted a team score of 276 points as they finished well ahead of runner-up Easter Connecticut (152 pts.).
Seniors Michael Kotleski (Great Barrington, Mass.) and Cameron Williamson (North Easton, Mass.), junior Joseph Keough (Walpole, Mass.) and freshmen Spencer Geary (Marlborough, Mass.), Joseph Zingarelli (Saunderstown, R.I.) and Joshua Moore (Cape May, N.J.) all won individual events for Bridgewater State.
Kotleski placed first in the 400-meter hurdles (57.01), while Williamson grabbed top honors in the triple jump (46'8"/14.22m) and Keough was the first to cross the finish line in the 1,500-meter run (4:10.64). Geary and Zingarelli tied for first in the pole vault (12'3.5"/3.75m).
Moore, sophomore Ryan Bain (Tewksbury, Mass.) and freshman John Chretien (Taunton, Mass.) finished one-two-three in the javelin. Moore's season-best toss of 190 feet, eight inches (58.12m) currently ranks 16th in all of Division III. Bain recorded a mark of 171 feet, seven inches (52.30m), while Chretien checked in at 168 feet, four inches (51.30m).
The Bears' foursome of sophomore Joshua Higgins (Fitchburg, Mass.), Kotleski, freshman Dylan Lynch (East Taunton, Mass.) and sophomore Miguel Andrade (Brockton, Mass.) won the 4x400-meter relay with a time of 3:27.87.
Senior Austin James (Mansfield, Mass.) placed second in both the shot put (46'8"/14.22m) and the discus (137'3"/41.84m), while Higgins (Fitchburg, Mass.) finished second in the 400-meter dash (50.68) and junior Austin Maskell (Weymouth, Mass.) recorded a third-place showing in the hammer throw (152'1"/46.36m).
Kotleski, Williamson, Moore, Bain, Chretien, Higgins, James (shot, discus) and Maskell all posted Division III New England Championships qualifying times or marks.
In upcoming action, the Bears host the MASCAC/New England Alliance Championships on Saturday, April 28th at Swenson Field.