SAN DIEGO - The Tufts University men's track & field team started its 2022 outdoor season during a spring break trip to the Ross and Sharon Irwin Invitational at Point Loma Nazarene University on Saturday.
The Jumbos compiled several strong early-season marks, as the team placed 15 times and distances into the Division III top 50.
Sophomore Luke Botsford was the runner-up in the 400 meters with a time of 48.91 seconds that ranks second nationally early in the outdoor campaign. Noah Turner's 50.06 in the event is 15th-best nationally and Ethan Forde recorded the 37th best mark for DIII at 51.06 seconds.
Three Jumbos had top 25 times in the 800 meters, led by Walter Wagude's 1:55.32 which was third at the meet and ranked #10 nationally. Jackson O'Toole (1:56.67) and Sawyer Wilson (1:57.02) rank 20th and 23rd nationally, respectively, while placing among the top 10 out of 56 starters in the race at the meet.
This group also showed strong in the 4x400-meter relay. Forde, O'Toole, Wilson and Wagude combined for a 3:39.02 that is #18 nationally early on outdoors.
Tufts had three top 50 marks in the throwing events on Saturday. Eric Meyer's (pictured) discus throw of 134'8" (41.05m) is #30 and his 145'1" (44.24m) in the hammer throw is #37. Dylan Daisey comes in at #41 in the hammer (143'1" - 43.63m).
Edward Kibomo led a trio of Jumbos with good marks in the jumps and vault. He cleared 6'0 ¾" (1.85m) for #30 in the high jump, while Carter Rosewell went 21'7 ¼" (6.58m) in the long jump for 34th nationally there. Hunter Farrell had a season-opening mark of 12'11 ¾" (3.96m) for the pole vault, 44th nationally.
Alex Friedman's 4:01.69 in the 1,500 meters and a 15:18.24 in the 5,000 meters by Nate Oakes were also national top 50 marks as the outdoor season commences.
Tufts will train in San Diego all week and compete in another meet at Point Loma Nazarene University next Saturday.
