Bridgewater, MA --- Freshman Jared Barros (Taunton, MA) placed first overall both the 100 meters (11.69) and the 200 (23.17) while also running leadoff for the winning 4x100 meter relay to propel the Worcester State men's outdoor track and field team in their season-opening meet at the non-scoring Bridgewater State Invitational.

The 4x100 meter relay team of Barros, junior Matthew Alley (Milford, MA), classmate Stephen Gannon (Mansfield, MA) and anchored by senior Todd Paquin (Pelham, NH) sprinted to the top time in the field (43.70) and an ECAC Division III qualifying split.

Junior Matthew Begley (E. Bridgewater, MA) had the other first-place finish for the Lancers with the top heave in the javelin (185-0/56.50 meters) before adding eighth in the discus (118-0/35.96m). Begley stamped his ticket for the ECACs and put up the ninth-best toss as of this morning in the NCAA Division III standings.

On the track, Paquin was third in the 100 (11.80) while Gannon took fifth in both the 100 (12.04) and 200 (23.65). Sophomore Benjamin Dussault (Assonet, MA) added eighth in the 200 (24.16), freshman Shane McKinley (Melrose, MA) timed eighth in the 400 (52.97) as Alley clocked ninth in the 100 (12.22).

Junior Adam Pepin (Paxton, MA) put up a strong double with sixth in the 400 meter hurdles (1:02.73) and 29th in the 1,500 (4:49.63).

Other throwers had a strong Saturday afternoon as senior Shawn McCabe (Mansfield, MA) was the runner-up in the hammer (142-8/43.50m) and junior Robert White (Ludlow, MA) was right behind in third (125-0/38.10m).

Freshman Sam Weeks (Methuen, MA) chalked up seventh in the shot put (41-9.75/12.74(m) and ninth in the discus (115-2/35.11m) while White also placed 11th in the discus (106-11/32.58m) and 12th in the shot put (39-2.25/11.94m).

Junior Jason Sliwoski (Leicester, MA) marked sixth in the javelin (149-0/45.43m) and seventh in the discus (120-5.50/36.92m) as sophomore Dana Perry (Mendon, MA) rounded out the finishers with eighth in both the long jump (18-6/5.64m) and triple jump (37-6/11.43).

The Lancers will compete again next week at the Tufts Invitational.

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