Brendan Laforest won the 400 meters with a time of 50.03 seconds to headline the results for the Westfield State men's track and field team at the Coast Guard Winter Invitational #2 at the Academy in New London, Conn. on Friday afternoon.
On Friday morning, Westfield State junior John Nekitopoulos placed 19th in the men's one-mile run at the NEICAAA All-Divisions Championship at the Track at New Balance in Boston. Nekitopoulos ran 4:32.77 in the premier indoor event. Nekitopoulous was one of just three NCAA Division III athletes in the 24-runner field, which included primarily Division I runners.
Nekitopoulos also ran the 600 and a leg of Westfield's 4x800 relay at the Coast Guard meet to compete in two different states in the same day.
Westfield placed second behind host Coast Guard in the team scoring. The Cadets led with 95.5, followed by Westfield 66 and Eastern Connecticut 63.5
The Owls' men ran 1-2-3 in the 800 paced by Rowan Gottshall in 2:06.52, followed in by Nick Hanley and Brendan Hager.
Dylan Clark second in the 35-lb. weight throw with a season-best toss of 14.15 meters, and checked in fourth in the shot put with a mark of 12.86 meters. Dylan's brother Shane took second place in the shot at 13.34.
Colby Ranck also scored well for Westfield as he placed third in long jump (6.30m) and second in triple jump (12.62m).