By Jim Fenton

BOSTON, Mass. -- Bridgewater State University men's track & field runner Kevin McBirney (East Bridgewater, Mass.) finished first in the mile at the Mini Meet on Saturday.

McBirney posted a time of 4:18.99 to win the race in a meet held at Boston University. There was no team scoring at the meet.

McBirney was ahead of second-place Stephen Vercollone of the Battle Road Track Club, who finished in 4:19.30.

During the cross country season this fall, McBirney was the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Male Runner of the Year.

Two other BSU runners joined McBirney in the top eight in the mile.

Sophomore Aydan Fournier (Assonet, Mass.) was seventh with a time of 4:27.48 while senior Kenny Goodwin (Chelmsford, Mass.) was eighth in 4:31.08.

BSU senior Zanthius Collins (Franklin, Mass.) finished third in the shot put with a heave of 43 feet, 8.74 inches (13.33m).

His teammate, sophomore Joe Flanagan (Foxborough, Mass.), was fifth in the shot put (37'4"/11.38m).

The Bears had four of the top 11 finishers in the 200, let by sophomore Matthew Mooney (Douglas, Mass.), who was fourth in 22.46 seconds.

Graduate student Mason Matias (New Bedford, Mass.) was fifth in 22.71 seconds while sophomore Jack Paula (Randolph, Mass.) took seventh in 23.06 seconds and junior Javon Epps (Brockton, Mass.) was 11th in 23.17 seconds.

Senior Stephen Spofford (Chelmsford, Mass.) finished fourth in the 400 with a time of 50.03 seconds.

BSU junior Nicholas Grace (Acushnet, Mass.) was ninth in 51.97 seconds, junior Chris Beaulieu (Monson, Mass.) took 10th in 52.19 seconds and sophomore Shaun Humberd (Plymouth, Mass.) was 11th in 52.24 seconds.

Junior Colin Daly (Easton, Mass.) was fifth in the weight throw (11.86 meters) and seventh in the shot put (34'7.5"/10.55m) and sophomore Brian Vale (Assonet, Mass.) took seventh in the 800 with a time of 2:05.87.

Junior Kyle Ackroyd (Charlestown, R.I.) was 15th in a field of 24 runners in the 3,000-meter run as he crossed the line in 8:55.77.

McBirney, Fournier, Goodwin, Flanagan, Mooney, Paula, Epps, Grace, Beaulieu, Humberd, Vale and Ackroyd all recorded personal-best times or marks in their respective events. Mooney qualified for the Division III New England Championships in the 200.

BSU will take part in the Bryant Indoor Throws Competition on Jan. 8 and the Suffolk Invitational in Boston on Jan. 11.