NEW YORK, N.Y. – The Stony Brook University men's track and field team concluded their weekend at the Dr. Sander Invite - Columbia Challenge on Saturday. The Seawolves finished in a tie for eighth place with Brown University after capturing 23 team points.
 
Graduate students Colin Ross and Aiden Smyth led the way for the Seawolves as both dashers earned points for Stony Brook this afternoon.
 
Ross notched a team-best five points in the 3000 meter run after completing the race at 8:13.20 to secure fifth place. Smyth, a Long Island native, finished the mile run in seventh place, crossing the finish line at 4:08.70 to earn Stony Brook three points.
 
After Smyth collected points in the mile run, Robert Becker continued his success on the track this afternoon, as the Hurley, N.Y. native earned sixth place in the Invitational mile run with a time of 4:00.02. 
 
 DAY TWO HIGHLIGHTS

• Graduate student Mahmoud Abdalla set a new personal best in the 800 meter event. He finished in 23^rd place after crossing the finish line at 1:55.29
• Sophomore Nicolas Lavazoli recorded a team-best 22^nd place in the 400 meter as he finished the race in 50.11. The Lake Grove, N.Y. native recorded a time of 22.39 in the 200 meter for the best finish on the team in 18^th  place. Freshman Eli Rathburn and sophomore Justin Vazquez came in shortly after Lavazoli in 24^th  place and 25^th  place, respectively.
• The 4x400 meter relay team composed of seniors Patrick Abel and Richmond Boateng, Rathburn, and Lavazoli came in 10th overall with a final combined time of 3:23.47.

QUOTES FROM THE SEAWOLVES
"Over the course of the two days it was a good experience for our teams to compete against some programs we don't normally see, like UCLA and South Carolina University," said head coach Andy Ronan. "The middle distance group had a good outing, Rob just came up short of running under 4 minutes for the mile for his second time, missing by.02 of a second. The 5000m group did well on Friday and Colin put in a very competitive effort in the 3000m this afternoon."

UP NEXT
Stony Brook is back on the track next weekend, February 3-4, when it travels back to The Armory to compete at the Scarlet Knight Open. The first event is set to begin at 10 a.m.
 
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