NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Bridgewater State University Mmen's track and field team opened the indoor season on Sunday at the Art Kadish Elm City Challenge hosted by Southern Connecticut State University.

Senior Jacob DeAndrade (Taunton, Mass.) broke a nine-year-old school record in the 55-meter dash to lead the Bears as the season-opening meet.

DeAndrade placed second in the 55-meter dash at the meet with a finals time of 6.41 seconds as he eclipsed Brian Espinosa's previous school mark of 6.53 seconds set back in 2014. DeAndrade also finished third in the 200-meter dash with a time of 23.01 seconds. DeAndrade qualified for the New England Division III Championships in both the hurdles and 200. He also qualified for the NEICAAA Championships in the hurdles.

Junior Thomas Barinelli (Tewksbury, Mass.) jumped five feet, 8.75 inches (1.75m) to take fourth place in high jump while also finishing ninth in long jump with a New England Division III meet qualifying mark of 21 feet, 4.75 inches (6.52m). 

Freshman Chigozie Adigwe (Lowell, Mass.) was the third runner to cross the finish line in the finals of the 55-meter hurdles as he posted a time of 8.03 seconds. Junior Corey Stalters (Norton, Mass.) finished fourth in the hurdles as he posted a finals time of 8.18 seconds. Adigwe and Stalters both qualified for DIII New Englands in the hurdles.

Adigwe also placed second in the 400-meter dash with a time of 54.40 seconds. Freshman Noah Pennington (Tariffville, Conn.) place fourth in the 400 with a time of 54.78 seconds, while Charles Dakai (Millville, Mass.) finished fifth with a time of 55.31 seconds.

Junior Jacob Belcher (Halifax, Mass.) placed sixth in the weight throw with a toss of 44 feet, 4.75 inches (13.53m).

The Bears, who were the only Division III team competing at the meet, placed fifth in the team standings with 52 points. Host Southern Connecticut State captured the meet title with 166 points. The University of New Haven (109 pts.) and Franklin Pierce University (82 pts.) rounded out the top three.

The Bears are off until Saturday, January 15th when they travel to Norton, Massachusetts to compete in the Wheaton Invitational at 10am hosted by Wheaton College.