WENHAM, Mass. – In its third and final event of the weekend, Suffolk men's outdoor track & field took fifth at the Gordon Invitational at the Brigham Athletic Complex Saturday.
Eight Rams produced personal best, while nine Suffolk student-athletes competed in an event for the first time in their outdoor careers including one who qualified for regionals. When combined, those performances totaled 71 team points, good for fifth in the eight-team field that featured Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) members Gordon (149), who won the meet, Wentworth (145), Nichols (128) and Endicott (8).
Carter Nevulis had a standout showing on Massachusetts' North Shore. The sophomore from Plymouth, Massachusetts, made his collegiate outdoor debut in the 110 hurdles and did so in New England qualifying fashion. His time of 15.17 earned his place at regionals and sat second in the seven-sprinter field. The time sits 11th in Division III in New England this year.
Nevulis was one of five blue-and-gold sprinters in the 100. He, along with Brady Sorensen and Ronny Brizan ran the event for the first time outdoors, while Turner Mitchell and Jason Motta marked personal record Saturday. Sorenson not only paced Suffolk's pack, but was a top contender in the 31-runner field as the sophomore clocked a 11.54, good for fourth. Mitchell (11th - 11.84), Nevulis (12th - 11.99), Brizan (17th – 12.01) and Motta (20th – 12.27) earned spots in the top-20.
In the 200, Jason Motta crossed the line in a personal-record 24.80 to claim 12th. John Avakian was four spots behind him in 16th behind a time of 25.21.
Ben Berman (1:02.54) ran one lap around the track for the first time in his career.
A quartet represented the Rams in the 800. Luke Sikora (2:04.56), Evan Wright (2:04.63) and Kely Maloney(2:05.21) took spots sixth through eighth, respectively. Arthur Lacerda (2:14.82) rounded out the foursome in 16th.
Suffolk's long-distance runners claimed the top five spots in the 5000. Nic Malm (16:23.70), Connor Hayward(16:32.20), Jacob Dubin (16:43.80), Conor Garrity (16:55.10) and Jadan Wenceslao (17:16.20) finished in that order. Malm, Dubin and Garrity all logged a career-high in the outing. Hayward and Wenceslao ran the event for the first time in their outdoor career.
Justin Turner won the 3000 Steeplechase. In his first time competing in the event, the junior from Chelsea, Massachusetts, produced a time of 11:02.60.
Gavin Reid was the only blue-and-gold jumper at Gordon. The junior from Rome, New York, notched a personal-record 12.00-meter triple jump to take fourth in the 10-jumper field.
Michael Power participated in a pair of field events. He claimed 19th in the shot put (8.61) and discus (25.91). Matthew Smith (33.82) and Michael Balestra (32.24) competed in the discus as well and took eighth and ninth, respectively.
Edward Abouzeid and Joshua Smith represented the Rams in the javelin. Abouzeid had a top-10 showing with a 41.83-meter throw good for sixth. Smith recorded a 30.46-meter toss.
Suffolk will be back in action next weekend at the Penmen Relays Saturday, April 16.