Worcester, MA- The Worcester State Men's Indoor Track and Field Team kicked off their season Saturday when they journeyed to Smith College for the Mary Grinaker Invitational. The Lancers looked to build on last season's success in both indoor and outdoor to get themselves in pace to qualify for the NCAA tournament in 2024. Continuing his outdoor success where he claimed three MASCAC Championships, junior Brodie Jacques (Rehoboth, MA) kept up his speed at Smith grabbing two top finishes.
Jacques claimed his first indoor sprint win with a 7.08 second 60m sprint that saw him sailing into first as the lone finals round qualifier for the Lancers in the event. His speed was put to good work again as he used it to launch himself 6.69m in the men's long jump competition. Joining Jacques were fellow teammates sophomore Seth Boudreau (Douglas, MA) who measured a distance of 6.10m for 8th place and fellow junior Giovanni Casiano (Oxford, MA) who landed at 5.10m and a 15th place finish in the event.
Senior Matt Talbot (Belchertown, MA) did not drop a beat from his cross country season finish nearly a month ago as he grabbed 2nd in the 3,000m in a time of 9:59.23. Fellow cross country stand out sophomore Alex Matsuyasu (Newton, MA) would cross in a time of 10:42.27 for 7th in the event.
The Lancers grabbed a number of top five finishes on the day with one coming off of first year Joey Moriarty (Plymouth, MA) who cleared the high jump in a 1.73m for 4th. Sophomore Taylor Gavaletz also had a top night landing an 11.56m triple jump to record his own fourth place finish. Worcester State also recorded a strong showing in the weight throw led by senior Jack Houlihan (Rutland, MA) whose measurement came in at 12.88m for fourth. Just under 1m behind, was first year Garrett Papierski (Webster, MA) who had a toss of 11.64m for 6th. Just two spots behind and just under .2m short was junior Max O'Connor with a distance of 11.47m followed close behind by senior Matthew Long (East Bridgewater, MA) who measured 10.39m for 9th. Rounding out the weight throw was first year Daniel Butler who came in with a distance of 7.84m for 11th. The throwing success did not end there though as Papierski recorded a 12.02m throw in the shot put for a 5th place finish, with O'Connor coming in with a 11.17 for 10th and Butler with a 10.05m for 13th.
Sophomore Seth Boudreau (Douglas, MA) fresh off his soccer season, found the top 5 in the 400m where he crossed the finish line in a time 0f 56.24. Just over a second behind was junior Brian O'Leary (Marlborough, MA) who came in at a time of 57.41 for 7th. First year Jacksen Bolduc (Auburn, MA) would finish his first collegiate indoor mile, after an impressive cross country season in a time of 5:08.29 to grab an 8th place finish in the race. Fellow first year Nolan Clarke (Mansfield, MA) would have a strong showing in the 200m with a 25.06 finish for 12th along with first years Jax Christman (Lancaster, MA) who finished in 16th in a time of 25.57 and Makrios Kitenda who crossed at 26.39 for 22nd and sophomore Alan Gomez (Clinton, MA) in 23rd in a time of 26.40. Rounding out the 200m was senior Anthony Paolucci who finished in 27.77 for 29th.
The Lancers are back in competition next Saturday, December 9th, when they head to the Wesleyan Winter Invite for the final meet before break.