BRIGHTON, MA (January 28, 2024) -- The Tufts University men's track and field program had a very strong day on Sunday at the 2024 Middlebury New England Small College Invitational at The TRACK at New Balance, posting six marks in the NCAA Top 50 while tallying four victories.
Starting with the winning efforts, senior
Luke Botsford was a double victor in the 200 and 400 meters, as he took the 200 meter dash with a time of 21.61 for the victory. The time was the eighth-best time in the nation this season, while also setting the new school record for the event. In the 400 meter dash, Botsford ran Division III's ninth-fastest time of the 2023-24 season for the win, posting a 48.02 for another school record.
In the high jump, senior
Harry Rienecker-Found cruised to the victory with a season-best height of 2.04 meters. The height was the sixth-highest in the nation this season so far this year. Senior
Ryan Vu also chalked up a victory in the long jump, as he posted the winning leap on his final attempt with a 6.61 meter, personal-best mark.
Other notable finishes included
Ivan Appleton in the 3000 meters, as he ran an 8:21.26 to finish second overall. The time was a personal-best for the junior, and ranked No. 25 on the NCAA Division III list this season and a new school record time.
In the distance medley relay, Tufts quartet of Will Cusato,
Chris Tilton,
Ryder Want and Appleton raced to a time of 10:33.82, which was 11th in the country thus far while finishing third on Sunday.
Also in the high jump,
Karsten Kropp posted a height of 1.96 meters, which ranks him 31st in the country after taking fourth place. In the 60 meter dash,
Alex Lemieux ran a time of 7.02 seconds for second place and then raced to a fourth-place finish in the 200 meters after running a 22.09.
First-year
Neil Chowdhury ran a strong race in the 200 as well, crossing the line in 22.47 for sixth place. Junior
Noah Turner raced to a time of 49.87 in the 400 for fourth place, and
Calvin Cummings earned fourth place in the 5000 meters with a personal-best time of 14:56.16. Junior
Alex Friedman was fifth in the 5000 meters as well with a 14:58.01, a new personal-best.
The Jumbos 4x400 meter relay squad of Charlie Fitzpatrick,
Ethan Forde, Cameron McLeod and Chowdhury were second after posting a finish of 3:23.52. First-year
Sami Witta was fifth in the high jump with a height of 1.91 meters, and fellow first-year
Ryder Kropiwnicki took eighth place after clearing 4.25 meters in the pole vault.
In the shot put,
Louis Tuccio was fourth with a toss of 13.96 meters, while also leading Tufts in the weight throw with a 15.02 meter throw. The weight throw toss was good for seventh place.
Tufts will return to action Friday evening, February 2 at 4 p.m. for the first of two days in the Tufts University Cupid Challenge and Multi Meet in Gantcher Field House.
--JUMBOS--
