MEDFORD, MA (January 14, 2023) -- The Tufts University men's track and field squad got its full indoor team season going on Saturday afternoon, competing in the 2023 Tufts Jumbos Invitational in the Gantcher Field House. The Jumbos picked up the top team finish out of the seven squads in attendance.
The Jumbos had a bunch of standout performances on Saturday, let by the high jump contingent of Harry Leinecker-Found and
Karsten Kropp. Leinecker-Found would earn the win in the high jump as he posted a 2.00 meters, which was the sixth-best height on the season in Division III. Kropp was runner-up as well, as he cleared 1.90 meters which was a new personal-best for the sophomore.
Junior
Alex Lemieux had a strong day in the 400 meter dash, racing to a time of 50.47 to earn the victory in the event. His time is 17th in the nation, while sophomore
Noah Turner was also fourth in the 400 meters with a time of 52.25. The Jumbos rounded out hte top eight in the 400 meters, as
Josh Kersley was fifth in 52.71 and
Luke Miller was sixth in his first collegiate race with a time of 53.19.
In the 60 meter hurdles, first-year
Josh Wilkie burst onto the scene with a victory as he raced to a time of 8.48, which placed him 21st in the nation after Saturday. Fellow newcomers
Sam Nissen and Cameron McLeod were third and fourth respectively in the 60 meter hurdles, as Nissen ran a 8.79 and McLeod crossed the line in 8.93. Staying on the track, Lemieux was fifth in the 60 meter dash after running a 7.08 while
Amos Trinidad finished sixth after running a time of 7.12 seconds.
Wilkie also was solid in the 200 meters, finishing fourth overall with a time of 23.07. He was followed in sixth place by Trinidad and his time of 23.41. In the 600 meter run, sophomore
Chris Tilton was third overall with a time of 1:23.77 with teammate
Marcus Hardy checking in right behind him in fourth place with a 1:24.12. First-year
John Puka was fifth in the 600 meters with a time of 1:26.40.
Sophomore
Evan Ensslin just missed a new personal record in the 1000 meters, as he finished second overall with a time of 2:34.92. First-year
Cullen McCaleb was fourth after racing to a time of 2:36.29, and sophomore
Jackson O'Toole was sixth with a time of 2:37.37. In the 4x400 meter relay, Tufts took first place thanks to the efforts of Tilton, O'Toole, Puka and Hardy as they crossed the line with a 3:32.72.
In the pole vault, sophomore
Liam Garrison took third place overall after clearing 3.85 meters on his second attempt at the height. Junior
Carter Rosewell was fifth as well in the pole vault with a mark of 3.70 meters.
First-year
Casey Lambert was fifth in the long jump after recording a mark of 6.19 meters, and sophomore
Ryan Vu also scored points in the event with a leap of 6.16 meters.
In the throwing events, three Jumbos qualified for finals in the shot put, led by sophomore
Petey Lemmon and his toss of 13.69 meters on his fourth throw of the afternoon. Lemmon finished fifth overall, and classmate
Louis Tuccio was sixth after using his fifth throw to record a distance of 13.25 meters. Sophomore
Matthew Carey also scored after registering a throw of 12.71 meters on his second attempt of six.
In the weight throw, sophomore
Eric Meyer had a solid day as he recorded a personal-best distance of 15.01 meters for fourth place. Sophomore
Derek Schmaeling was fifth as well with a new collegiate-best mark of 14.45 meters, and Tuccio added a new PR with a 13.30 meter heave.
The Jumbos will be right back in the Gantcher Field House this upcoming Friday and Saturday, hosting the Branwen Smith-King Invitational January 20-21.
--JUMBOS--
