CORSAIRS AT TUFTS INVITATIONAL
                                                                                                            

MEDFORD, MA-The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth’s indoor track and field team performed well in their final tune-up for next weekend’s conference meet.

The men finished tied for fifth of 15 teams, while the women tied for 12th of 17 teams at the Tufts Jumbo Stampede, held Saturday at the Gantcher Family Sports and Convocation Center.

UMass Dartmouth’s men finished with 47 points, the same total as Eastern Connecticut State and a point ahead of WPI. Host Tufts was first with 160 points.

The women had 11 points, the same number as Wellesley. Host Tufts was first with 157 points.

On the men’s side, junior Jon Garcia (Stoneham, MA/Stoneham HS) won the 55 meter hurdles (7.75 seconds), was second in both the 200 meters (22.89 seconds) and the long jump (21-10 ¼), and ran a 50.8 split on the 4 x 400 meter relay team, which finished second. Senior Clayton Gullatt (Gardner, MA/Gardner HS) was third in the high jump at 6-2, junior Brian Vatcher (Stoneham, MA/Stoneham HS) was seventh in the mile in a personal best time of 4:27.72, sophomore Eric Holmes (Abington, MA) was eighth (9:12.02) and senior Casey Cavanaugh (Wilbraham, MA/Minnechaug HS) was 10^th (9:19.39) at 3000 meters, and sophomore Kevin O’Connell (Peabody, MA/Peabody HS) was fifth at 5000 meters in 17:23.73.

For the women, freshman Teresa McGrath (Saugus, MA/Saugus HS) finished sixth in the shot put at 37 feet, 3 ¼ inches, sophomore Katie Malloy (Agawam, MA/Agawam HS) was fourth in the high jump at 5-1 ¾, tying the school record, and sophomore Leanne Nygaard (Medway, MA/Medway HS) had a personal best at 800 meters in 2:28.97.

”Both teams did very well against very good competition,” said UMass Dartmouth Head Coach Jon Hird. “We wanted to put everyone in the events they would run next week and use this as a rehearsal, and it looks like we’re very close to being ready for the conference meet.”

The Corsairs will return to action at the Little East Conference and Alliance Championships next Sunday at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston.

UMASS DARTMOUTH TRACK AND FIELD