Gibson, Johnson Lead Men's Indoor Track At BU Valentine Invitational

Men's Track Slides Up To 29th In National USTFCCCA Composite Index | Ranked Top Squad In MASCAC, Fifth In New England Heading Into Conference Meet

Boston, MA --- Junior Terrence Gibson (Rockland, MA) placed third overall in the trials of the 60 meters (8.05) and 24th in the 200 meters (21.99) as he helped lead the Worcester State men's indoor track and field team at the non-scoring Boston University Valentine Invitational.

The Lancers used the opportunity of BU's banked track to clock some strong times before competing at the MASCAC/Alliance Championships next weekend at Southern Maine.

The non-scoring meet featured solid competition from around the New England, New York and several Mid-Atlantic institutions that included schools from all three Divisions and several local track clubs.

Gibson scorched the track with the fastest time in Division III in the 60 meter hurdles and the ninth lowest split nationally in the 200. His 200 was also the fourth-best time for a divisional competitor in the event.  

Other standouts included senior Andrew Johnson (Thompson, CT) who matched his season best with 6.6.75 (2.00 meters) for seventh place in the high jump while junior Matthew Begley (E. Bridgewater, MA) qualified for the Division III New England Championships in the weight throw (47-02.50/14.39m) and the shot put (46-07.50/14.21m).

The 4x400 meter relay team of freshman Jared Barros (Taunton, MA) second, junior Stephen Gannon (Mansfield, MA) at anchor, senior Ramses Rafael (Lawrence, MA) leading off and classmate Todd Paquin (Pelham, NH) as the third leg, was 18th overall (3:22.09) and the fifth-fastest time for a Division III school.

Paquin was also 34th in the 200 (7.19) and 68th in the 60 (22.68) while Gannon tallied 66th in the 400 (50.24). Paquin clocked the fifth-best 60 split among Division III competitors.

Barros was 67th in the 200 (22.67) to qualify for the ECAC Division III Championships followed by classmate Charles Newman (Westfield, MA) who wasn't far behind in 82nd (22.80) as Rafael registered 89th in the 400 (50.85).

Junior Duy Truong (Worcester, MA/Doherty) had the ninth lowest Division III time with 45th in the 60 meters while freshman Max Sullivan (Springfield, MA/Commerce) was inside the top 100 in 98th (7.62).

Third-year Jason Sliwoski (Leicester, MA) added 63rd in the 60 meter hurdles (9.34). Senior Patrick Bova (Princeton, MA) nearly broke the two-minute barrier with 2:01.94 in the 800 for 177th.

In the field, freshman Sam Weeks (Methuen, MA) was 39th in the shot put (42-11/13.08m) and junior Robert White (Ludlow, MA) tossed 37th in the weight throw (42-9.75/13.05m). Senior Shawn McCabe (Mansfield, MA) marked up 30th in the weight throw (45-0.25/13.72m) and 49th in the shot put (40-10.25/12.45m).

Freshman Markiesh Harmon (Leominster, MA) placed 25th in the triple jump (39.11.25/12.17m) and across the Charles River at the MIT Invitational, junior David Germain (Malden, MA) finished third overall in the high jump (6-2/1.88m).

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