LOWELL, MA (Feb. 9, 2008) – UMass Lowell’s distance medley relay team posted a school record and achieved the fastest time in the country Friday night to highlight the River Hawk track and field team’s effort at the Boston University St. Valentine’s Day Invitational at the BU Track and Tennis Center.

The non-scoring meet drew athletes and colleges of all three divisions from all over the country as well as many representing postgraduate track and field clubs from the Northeast Region.

The UML foursome posted a time of 9:54.15 – placing first among Division II and III colleges – and supplanting Stonehill’s effort of 9:56.89 as the top result in Division II this season.

UML was led by junior Ruben Sanca (Boston, MA), who ran the 1,200 meters in 2:59.70; freshman Sam Bastien (Canton, MA), who ran the 400 meter dash in 50.6 seconds; sophomore Mike Malinowski (Peabody, MA), who ran the 800 meters in 1:56.40; and graduate student Stephen DeWitt (Ellsworth, ME), who recorded a time of 4:07.1 in the mile.

The River Hawk foursome bested the previous school record of 9:54.46, set in 2001.

Individually, Malinowski placed 22nd overall and fourth among Division II-III athletes in the 1,000 meters with a time of 2:31.62, just behind freshman Chris Forbes (Methuen, MA), who took 21st/3rd in 2:31.52.

Highlighting the day individually was freshman Cory Murray (Methuen, MA), who placed ninth in the shot put and second among II-III throwers with a distance of 51’ feet even. Senior Rocky Le Fort (Nashua, NH) was close behind in 12th/4th with a toss of 49’ 5.75’’.

Senior Jeff Destino (Gloucester, MA) impressed in the 500 meters, placing 12th (third) in 1:05.46.

Other results included that of junior Rex Radloff (Dedham, MA), who placed 18th (12th) in the 5,000 meters in 14:40.04; and senior Terry Young (Mansfield, MA), who took 23rd (5th) in the long jump with a leap of 20’ 8.5’’.