University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Boston University Valentine Invitational
Four Minutemen, One Relay Team Qualify For IC4A Competition
February 15, 2009 | Men's Track & Field
Feb. 15, 2009
Boston, Mass. - The UMass men's track and field team competed at the Boston University Valentine to no team score. Four individual athletes and the 4X400 meter relay qualified for the IC4A Championships. The top performance of the day came from rookie Philip Weltman (Dedham, Mass.), who ranked sixth in the 400 meter run with a time of 48.45 and qualified for IC4A competition. That time of 48.45 ranks him second all-time at UMass in the 400 meter run.
Also qualifying for the championship season in the 800 meter was junior Sean Duncan (Gardner, Mass.) with a time of 1:54.90. Sophomore Scott VanderMolen (Tully, N.Y.) ran the 1000 meter event in 2:28.88 to beat IC4A time by one second. Senior Peter Fortunato (Tewksbury, Mass.) finished the mile in 4:11.48 for a 16th place finish out of over 177 runners. The 4X400 meter relay team ranked 11th with a time of 3:18.78 to earn a spot at IC4A's.
Also giving a solid performance, sophomore Darius Velez (Cambridge, Mass.) ranked sixth in the finals of the 55 meter dash, with a time of 6.50. In the 500 meter run, Sam Laorenza (North Andover, Mass.) crossed the finish line in 1:03.93 for a fifth place finish. Junior Tyler Cotto (Holliston, Mass.) qualified in the 55 meter hurdles with a time of 7.58, but false started in the finals.
In field events, sophomore Sean Busch (Stow, Mass.) vaulted a height of 14-05.50 for a fourth place finish overall. Rookie Daniel Wu (Tenafly, N.J.) long jumped 21-05.50 for a 16th place finish. Sophomore Kevin Spieler ranked 25th overall in the shot put with a throw 43-03.00.
The Minutemen travel to Kingston, R.I. for the Atlantic 10 Championships next weekend at URI.
