LHU Men’s Track & Field returns to action, opens 2024 at Spartan Invitational

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – The Lock Haven men’s track and field team returned to action today (Friday, Jan. 2) after winter break to open the 2024 portion of its schedule by competing in the Spartan Invitational hosted by Saint Thomas Aquinas College in Staten Island, N.Y.

The Bald Eagles had a strong day in their first action since before the new year and finished with nine top-10 finishes against a talented field of athletes.

For the sprint group, Matthew Muthler (Pottstown, Pa./Owen J. Roberts) picked up a top-10 finish in the 400-meter dash, placing 10th with a time of 51.26.

Andrew Wehrle (Punxsutawney, Pa./Punxsutawney) just missed the top-10 in the 500-meter dash as he finished 12th with a time of 1:07.82.

Leading the way on the distance side was Kirk Stewart (South Park, Pa./South Park), who ran a PSAC qualifying time in the mile with a run of 4:23.42.

Gavin Furey (Williamsport, Pa./Williamsport) added a top-10 finish in the 1000-meter run, placing ninth with a run of 2:35.99.

Jakob Rager (Dallastown, Pa./Dallastown Area) also finished top-10 in the 3000-meter run, just missing a PSAC time with a run of 8:53.14.

Lock Haven had a solid showing in relays, led by a fifth-place finish by Kwame Whitaker Jr. (Fredericksburg, Va./Courtland), Michael Lawrence (Blakeslee, Pa./Pocono Mountain West), Matt Reinard (Camp Hill, Pa/Cumberland Valley) and Brennan Miller (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Mechanicsburg), with a time of 1:30.65.

In field events, Bald Eagles long jump record holder Whitaker shined again, placing second with a mark of 23-8.25.

Dominc Caputo (Montoursville, Pa./Montoursville) had a strong showing in the triple jump, placing sixth with a mark of 45-3. Lawrence joined him in the top-10 by placing ninth with a PSAC mark of 45-3.

Nick Bellomo (Jersey Shore, Pa./Jersey Shore) finished eighth in the pole vault with a PSAC qualifying mark of 12-8.25.

Nathan Fetchkan (Newville, Pa./Big Spring) added a top-10 finish in the shot put, placing ninth with a mark of 45-10.25.

NEXT UP

The Bald Eagles are back in action on Friday, January 19 when they travel to Youngstown, Pa. to compete in the Youngstown Collegiate Invitational. Lock Haven will continue competition on Saturday, Jan. 20 when they send athletes to the River Hawk Invite in Selinsgrove, Pa.