BOSTON, MA (Dec. 1, 2007) – Sophomore Robert Liekweg (Salem, NH) placed third in the 55 meter hurdles to lead the UMass Lowell men’s track and field team at the Northeastern University Husky Winter Carnival Saturday at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletics Center.

The season-opening, non-scoring meet drew schools from all three divisions, as well as many athletes representing postgraduate track and field clubs, from the Northeast Region.

Liekweg ran the 55 meter hurdles in 7.79 seconds – tops among Division II and III hurdlers – and finished only behind Joe Greene (7.69) and Freddie Wills (7.79) of the University of Albany, who edged Liekweg despite having the same time.

Liekweg placed second in the preliminary with a time of 7.86 while freshman Matt Blazon (Lowell, MA) took 13th in 8.31. Blazon also placed in a tie for eighth in the high jump, clearing 6’ 0.0’’ even.

Sophomore Mike Malinowski (Peabody, MA) placed fifth in the 1,000 meters in 2:35.69, and was one of two River Hawks in the top 10. Freshman John Lutkevitch (Mansfield, MA) placed ninth in 2:37.39.

Senior Rocky LeFort (Nashua, NH) placed sixth overall and second in the Division II-III contingent in the shot put. Le Fort posted a distance of 46 feet, 2.75 inches as 9.25 inches separated places second through seventh.

In other events, freshman Sam Bastien (Canton, MA) placed 13th in the 400 meter dash; and senior Steve Stanley (Mansfield, MA) took 15th in the 500 meters

UML enters the Harvard Invitational next Saturday before returning to the winter slate on Jan. 13 at the Dartmouth Indoor Relays.