Waltham, MA ---  The WPI men's track and field team began their 2008 season with an outstanding performance at Brandeis University's Reggie Poyau Invitational.  Several WPI athletes earned top finishes to help the Engineers to an impressive third place finish. 

Leading the way for the Crimson and Gray were Jarrett Arrendondo (Somerville, MA) and Ben Roy (Buxton, ME) who were each victorious in their respective events.  Arrendondo won the weight throw event with a 14.23 meter toss and finished third in the shot put (12.69m) while Roy ran to first place in the 55 meter hurdles (7.83).  Shaun Price (Boston, MA) had a great day on the track, picking up second place in the 55 meter dash (6.71) before taking third in the triple jump (12.88m). 

Fran Collins (Springfield, MA) grabbed second place in the shot put (13.55m) and weight throw (13.90m) while teammate Jeff Baker (Wallingford, CT) finishes eighth in the weight throw (12.62m) and ninth in the shot put (12.13m).  Nick Holovnia (Northboro, MA) ran to third place in the 400 meter dash (52.14) and finished seventh (24.49) behind Devin Auclair (Marlboro, MA) in the 200 meter dash. 

Other top finishes included Chris McCann (Haverhill, MA) in the one mile run (4:21.21), Joe Krasinskas (Sutton, MA) in the 600 meter run (1:28.63), Kevin Jillson (East Sandwich, MA) in the 5000 meter run (15:30.47), Shawn Wilhelm (Milford, CT) in the pole vault (3.35m) and Matija Zelic (Westboro, MA) in the long jump (5.81m) and high jump (1.75m). 

In relay action, the 4 x 400 team of Auclair, Holvnia, Eric Koethe (Chelmsford, MA) and Shaun Tirrell (Burlington, VA) combined for a fifth place finish (3:42.05) while the 4 x 800 team of Scott Woodnorth (Whitefish Bay, WI), Paul Sullivan (Manchester, CT), Chris Gabrielson (Westford, MA) and McCann placed third (8:22.76). 

Collins, Price, Arrendondo and the 4 x 400 and 4 x 800 relay teams all qualified for the New England Division III Championships with their performances while McCann, Jillson and Roy qualified for both the New England Division III Championships and the ECAC Championships. 

Men's track travels to Coast Guard on Saturday for a meet beginning at 9am.

Results