WESTFIELD, Mass. – Westfield State graduate student Mike Maher (Attleboro, Mass.) recorded a first-place finish in the 3000m as the men's track and field team competed in the Massasoit Classic from Springfield College on Saturday.

Maher was first to cross the finish line in the event, finishing with a time of 9:40.34.

The Owls had numerous top five performances on the afternoon, particularly in the 600m where Justin Kennedy (Holyoke, Mass.), Colin Mahoney (Plainville, Mass.), and Rowan Gottshall (West Simsbury, Mass.) all placed within the top five of the event. Kennedy was the first Owl to finish, earning second place with a time of 1:26.61. Mahoney followed in third (1:28.91) then Gottshall in fifth (1:31.24).

First-year Gordon Johnson (Hanson, Mass.) produced a strong performance in the 1000m, earning a time of 2:42.61 which placed him second in the event. Junior John Nekitopoulos (West Springfield, Mass.) also turned in a fourth-place mark in the mile run by crossing the line in 4:29.57, setting a personal best by 20 seconds.

In the field events, juniors' Colby Ranck (Chicopee, Mass.) and Dylan Clark (Bellows Falls, Vt.) each secured a pair of top five placements. Ranck logged fourth-place tallies in the long jump (6.45m) and the triple jump (12.36m). Clark earned a fourth in the shot put (12.50m) and fifth in the weight throw (12.96m).

The Owls wrapped up the event in the 4x400 meter relay with the quartet of Mahoney, Gottshall, Johnson, and Nekitopoulos placing third overall in the race.

Westfield State will be back at it next weekend as the Owls travel to Middletown, Conn. for the Wesleyan Invite at Wesleyan University on Saturday, January 21.