By Jim Fenton

BOSTON, Mass. -- Senior Zanthius Collins (Franklin, Mass.) and junior Nicholas Grace (Acushnet, Mass.) each won an event to lead the Bridgewater State University men's indoor track & field team on Saturday at the season-opening Early Bird Invitation held at The Track at New Balance.

Collins won the shot put with a toss of 48 feet, 1.25 inches (14.66m) in the meet that included competitors from all three divisions.

Grace captured top honors in the 500-meter dash with a time of 1:07.87.

The meet was held on Saturday at The Track at New Balance to kick off the indoor season.

Collins' teammate, sophomore Chandler Doehler (Berkley, Mass.) was eighth in the shot put with a toss of 42 feet. 7.5 inches (12.99m).

BSU had four of the top six finishers in the 500.

Senior Charles Dakai (Millville, Mass.) was second in 1:08.58 followed in third place by junior Chris Beaulieu (Monson, Mass.) in 1:09.91. The sixth spot went to sophomore Shaun Humberd (Plymouth, Mass.) in 1:11.12.

Senior Chigozie Adigwe (Lowell, Mass.) was third in the 60-meter hurdles in 8.41 seconds with teammate Ryker King (Wareham, Mass.), a junior, finishing seventh in 8:84.

The 4x400 relay team of freshman Alex Panneton (Tyngsboro, Mass.), sophomore Jasen Jean-Louis (Framingham, Mass.), sophomore Brian Vale (Assonet, Mass.) and sophomore Aydan Fournier (Assonet, Mass.) finished third in 3:47.57.

Freshman Alex Huynh (Stoughton, Mass.) made his collegiate debut with a fifth-place finish in the high jump (6'1.5"/1.87m).

Senior Stephen Spofford (Chelmsford, Mass.) was eighth in the 400 in 50:15, sophomore Matthew Mooney (Douglas, Mass.) was 11th in the 200 in 22:47 and Beaulieu placed 12th in the long jump (20'10"/6.35m).

Adigwe qualified for both the Division III New England Championships and NEICAAA Championships in the hurdles. Collins, Spofford and Mooney qualified for DIII New Englands in the shot put, 400 and 200, respectively.

King (60H), Mooney (200), Grace (500), Dakai (500), Humberd (500) and Doehler (shot put) each recorded personal-best times or mark for their respective events.

The Bears are idle until Jan. 11 when they return to The Track at New Balance for the Suffolk Invitational.