NEW HAVEN, CT (Feb. 23, 2007) – Junior Andrew Grange (Methuen, MA) captured the 400 meter dash to lead UMass Lowell to third place at the Northeast-10 Conference Indoor Track & Field Championship Saturday at Southern Connecticut’s Moore Fieldhouse.

The River Hawks compiled 90 points while the host Owls took the team title with 202 points and Stonehill placed second with 131. Bryant placed fourth with 50 points and was followed by Bentley (38), American International (33), Saint Rose (31) and Assumption (8).

Grange, who currently has the fourth fastest time in the country (48.17) this season, ran the 400 in 49.54 and led five UML sprinters in the top 10 places. Sophomore Doug Caves (Oxford, MA) took fourth in 50.29 while sophomore Robert Liekweg (Salem, NH) placed sixth in 51.38.

Senior Jeff Destino (Gloucester, MA) and sophomore Justin Oliver (Lowell, MA) took eight and ninth, respectively, in 52.31 and 52.35.

Junior Rex Radloff (Dedham, MA) and freshman Cory Murray (Methuen, MA) led several athletes who finished as runners-up. Radloff took second in the mile (4:23.61) while Murray took second in the shot put with a throw of 53 feet, 1.75 inches.

Senior Rocky LeFort (Nashua, NH) took fourth in the shot put with a toss of 50’ 8.25’’.

Also placing second were UML’s distance medley and 4X800 meter relay teams. UML captured the DMR in 10:35.45 and was led by junior Ruben Sanca (Boston, MA) who ran the 1,200 meters in 3:04; sophomore Mike Malinowski (Peabody, MA), who ran the 400 meter dash in 51.9; freshman Chris Forbes (Methuen, MA) the 800 meters in 2:01.9 and Radloff the mile in 4:35.2.

Sanca also led the 4X800 meter relay team to second as he ran a 1:58.6-second split. Freshman Angus MacDonald (Methuen, MA) ran a 1:59.4 leg while senior Jason Gustin (Wilmington, MA) ran a 1:59.6 leg and freshman Sean Gelinas (Northwood, NH) 2:06.4.

MacDonald and Malinowski also placed fourth and sixth, respectively, in the 800 meters. MacDonald ran the course in 1:59.46 while Malinowski was close behind in 2:01.00.

Freshman Johan Rafael (Lawrence, MA) also ran well in the sprints, placing third in both the 55 meter dash (6.51) and 200 meter dash (22.73). Freshman Matt Blazon (Lowell, MA) highlighted a busy day by placing third in the pole vault (11’ 1.0’’) and fifth in both the 55 meter hurdles (8.31) and long jump (6’ 0.0’’).

Other notable results included that of freshman Jack Kilcommons (South Boston, MA), who placed fourth in the 3,000 meters (9:19.10), just ahead of freshman teammate Greg Wilson (Chelmsford, MA) who was fifth (9:22.48); and senior Terry Young (Mansfield, MA), who took fourth in the long jump (22’ 1.5’’)

UML enters the New England Championships Friday and Saturday at Boston University.