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 Junior Cory Murray: Four-time All-New England shotputter |
Feb. 28, 2010
Juniors Angus MacDonald (Methuen, MA) and Cory Murray (Methuen, MA) each earned All-New England honors to lead the UMass Lowell men’s track and field team to eighth place at the New England Championship Saturday at the Boston University Track & Tennis Center.
UMass Lowell compiled 27 points and finished fourth among Division II and III colleges. The University of Connecticut won the men’s title with 140 points while Southern Connecticut (58 points) topped the list of Division II and III schools.
MacDonald was UMass Lowell’s sole athlete to win All-New England honors in two events. He placed second in the 3,000 meters in 8:20.97, just behind Richard Yeates of Providence, who took first in 8:18.76.
On Friday, MacDonald led UMass Lowell’s distance medley relay team to the New England title in a school-record 9:53.97, running the mile in 4:09.7.
Sophomore Jeff Veiga (Lowell, MA) and junior Greg Wilson (Chelmsford, MA) placed 10th and 11th in the 3,000 meters (fourth and fifth among Division II-III runners). Veiga ran the course in 8:29.30 while Wilson was right behind in 8:32.30.
Murray earned All-New England status for the fourth time in his career as he placed fourth overall (first) in the shot put with a distance of 52 feet, 4.5 inches.
After earning All-New England honors on Friday in the long jump (fifth, 22’ 3.75’’), senior William Nguidjoi (Lawrence, MA) fell just one place and a half inch short on Saturday in the triple jump. His effort of 44’ 5.5’’ was good for ninth place (sixth), just behind Brandon Palmer of Westfield State (44’ 6.0’’).
In other events, senior Tim Guerin (Auburn, MA), also a member of UMass Lowell’s distance medley relay team on Friday, placed 13th (sixth) in the mile in 4:15.43.
UMass Lowell’s 4X800 meter relay team placed 11th (seventh) in 7:48.86. Leading the way was sophomore Danny Wang (Haverhill, MA), who ran a 1:56.1 split and was followed by sophomore Adam Hanley (Methuen, MA), who ran a 1:57.5 split. Freshman Chris Estrella (Lowell, MA) followed in 1:57.3 while junior Brody Griffiths (Woburn, MA) ran a 1:57.8 leg.
The River Hawks were dealt a blow in the 400 meter dash when junior Donte Brown (Raynham, MA) stumbled with 15 meters remaining after taking the lead. Additionally, senior Robert Liekweg (Salem, NH) suffered a tweaked hamstring, which led to UMass Lowell withdrawing from the 4X40 meter relay.
UMass Lowell enjoys a week’s hiatus before the NCAA Championship, slated for Mar. 12-13 in Albuquerque, NM.
