BOSTON, MA (Jan. 27, 2008) – Stephen DeWitt (Ellsworth, ME) automatically qualified for the NCAA Championship and edged the school record in the mile Saturday afternoon to lead the UMass Lowell men’s track and field team at the Boston University Terrier Invitational at the BU Track & Tennis Center.

DeWitt was one of four River Hawks who qualified or improved their standing for the NCAAs. The Invitational drew athletes and school from all three NCAA Divisions as well as many athletes representing postgraduate track and field clubs al over the country.

DeWitt placed sixth overall and second among collegiate runners behind Haden McLaren of Providence (3:59.50) with a time of 4:06.53 which guarantees his place at the NCAA Championship Mar. 14-15. DeWitt nipped the previous school record of 4:06.54 set by former UML standout Patrick Morasse on Feb. 12, 2005 at the BU St. Valentine’s Day Invitational.

Junior Ruben Sanca (Boston, MA) placed 12th overall and sixth among collegians with a time of 4:11.07, also good for NCAA provisional qualification.

DeWitt and Sanca joined junior Andrew Grange (Methuen, MA) and sophomore Doug Caves (Oxford, MA) as UML’s NCAA qualifiers this season. Grange and Caves improved their standing Saturday as they placed second and fourth overall in the 400 meter dash.

Grange posted a time of 47.77 seconds while Caves placed fourth in 47.87, securing their place at the NCAAs in March.

Freshman Cory Murray (Methuen, MA) continued his ascension in the shot put as he placed second overall and tops among Division II and III throwers with a distance of 50 feet, 5.25 inches. Senior Rocky LeFort (Nashua, NH) was close behind with a toss of 49’ 0.25’’, which pitted him fourth overall and second among II-III throwers.

Junior Rex Radloff (Dedham, MA) was the top II-III runner in the 3,000 meters (ninth among collegians, 16th overall) with a time of 8:25.55.

UML’s 4X400 meter relay team also earned the top spot among II-III foursomes (ninth overall) with a time of 3:19.71. Leading off was freshman Jeff Brighenti (Westminster, MA), who ran a 50.8-second split; sophomore Justin Oliver (Lowell, MA), who followed in 49.6 seconds; and freshmen Sam Bastien (Canton, MA) in 49.2 and Johan Rafael (Lawrence, MA) in 49.6.

Rafael also did well individually, placing 10th overall and third among II-III entries in the 200 meter dash in 22.18.

Other results included that of sophomore Mike Malinowski (Peabody, MA), who placed 14th overall (second) in the 800 meters in 1:56.02; freshman John Lutkevich (Mansfield, MA), who took 26th (sixth) in 1:58.06; freshman Chris Forbes (Methuen, MA), who placed 19th (third) in the 1,000 meters in 2:31.95; and senior Terry Young (Mansfield, MA), who placed sixth (fourth) in the long jump with a distance of 21’ 6.75’’.