CONWAY, SC (Mar. 23, 2008) – Junior Rex Radloff (Dedham, MA) captured the 5,000 meters and led the UMass Lowell men’s track and field team at the Shamrock Invitational Friday and Saturday at Coastal Carolina University.

The season-opening meet drew some of the top Division I, II and III schools from around the country as well as many postgraduate runners representing track and field clubs.

Radloff won the 5,000 meters title in 15:01.13 and posted nearly a 17-second cushion on the remainder of the field. Sophomore Jack Kilcommons (South Boston, MA) placed fifth overall and third among Division II-III runners in 15:51.89.

The River Hawks were also buoyed by sophomore Doug Caves (Oxford, MA) who placed fourth in the 400 meter dash in 47.08 seconds to provisionally qualify for the NCAA Championship.

Junior Ruben Sanca (Boston, MA) placed second in the mile in 4:16.11.

Led by Radloff, four UML athletes placed tops among Division II and III athletes in their respective events, led by senior Rocky LeFort (Nashua, NH) who took fourth overall in the shot put with a throw of 50 feet, 2.75 inches. Freshman Cory Murray (Methuen, MA) was close behind in eighth (second) with a distance of 47’ 11.0’’.

Sophomore Mike Malinowski (Peabody, MA) impressed in the 800 meters, placing 12th overall (first) in 1:57.98 while senior Jason Gustin (Wilmington, MA) took 13th overall (second) in 1:58.43.

Sophomore Robert Liekweg (Salem, NH) took ninth (first) in the javelin with a throw of 171’ 1.0’’.

In the 3,000 meter steeplechase, freshman Tim Guerin (Auburn, MA) placed sixth overall (second) in 9:40.19.

Senior Terry Young (Mansfield, MA) placed 10th (third) in the long jump with a distance of 20’ 11.75’’.

UML enters the Trinity College Bantam Invitational next Saturday in Hartford, CT.