MEDFORD – The Tufts University men's indoor track & field team won two events and took second place as a team at the third annual Branwen Smith-King Invitational on Saturday at the Gantcher Center.
Matt D'Anieri continued his excellent senior season by winning the mile run in 4:17.02 for a personal-best and the #10 mark in the nation as of Sunday morning. The time was almost exactly five seconds faster than his previous best (4:23.03). The Jumbos scored 21 points in the event including national top 50 finishes by freshman Evan Ensslin in third place (4:21.71) and by sophomore Nick Delaney in fourth place (4:21.99).
D'Anieri also anchored the Jumbo 4x800-meter relay that won a six-team race with an 8:01.73 mark. He was joined by Delaney, senior Dylan McEniry and sophomore Collin O'Sullivan. They were nearly 11 seconds in front of runner-up Bates (8:12.48).
Three Jumbo multi competitors combined to score 19 points in the heptathlon, with sophomore Ben Stein taking second (4,438 points), sophomore Riley Patten third (4,344) and freshman Carter Rosewell fourth (4,283). As part of the three events contested today, Stein tallied 763 points with a 2:50.28 in the 1,000 meters, Patten had the best mark in the pole vault with a 13'1 ½" (4.00m) PR and Rosewell's 9.15 in the 60-meter hurdles earned 713 points. Stein's score is ranked 20th nationally, while Patten checks in at 27th and Rosewell 30th.
Tufts had a good day in the pole vault overall as freshman Hunter Farrell was second in the event with a 14'7 ¼" (4.45m) best. The mark is 41st in Division III. Sophomore Alex Zsikla had a PR of 45'2 ½" (13.78m) for a third-place showing in the triple jump and a #42 national ranking.
Senior throwers Dylan Daisey and Christian Trebisacci both hit PRs today. Daisey did it with 49'11 ¾" (15.23m) distance in the weight throw. That was well beyond his previous career best of 48'6 ¼" (14.79m). Trebisacci had his in the shot put with a 43'11 ¾" (12.82m) effort. He was also well past his previous best of 42'0 ¾" (12.92m).
Senior co-captain Harry Steinberg was another Jumbo who was at his best today with an 8:47.19 PR in the 3,000 meters. In his first appearance of the season, sophomore NESCAC champion Matt Manteiga went 21'7 ¼' (6.58m) in the long jump for fourth place.
The Jumbos totaled 86 team points to place behind meet champion MIT (135.5). Coast Guard was third with a 69 score.
Tufts is back in Gantcher next Saturday for the Cupid Challenge.
