From Brandeis University Athletics

Strong performances highlighted the Brandeis track and field teams outing this weekend.

Top Performers – Men

• In the 35-pound weight throw, junior Scott Grote (Greenfield, Mass. / Greenfield) had one of the most impressive performances of the day recording a throw of 13.68 meters.  This was a huge personal best for Grote, improving by more than a meter and a half.
• In the short sprints, personal bests were turned in from sophomore Lorenzo Maddox (Atlanta, Ga. / Maynard Jackson), placing 15^th in the 60m with a time of 7.34, and rookie Jake Ward (Weston, Fla. / Cypress Bay) who followed closely behind in 16^th with a time of 7.36.
• Junior Henry McDonald (Weymouth, Mass./Weymouth) ran a personal best in both the prelim and final of the 60m hurdles going 9.16 in the prelim before running 8.99 to place 3^rd in the final. Rookie Aaron Baublis (Westborough, Mass. / Westborough) joined his teammate in the final running a personal best as well of 9.30 to place 6^th.
• Graduate student Irie Gourde (Portland, Ore. / York Academy, Canada) and sophomore Churchill Perry (Pembroke Pines, Fla. / Westminster Academy) went 1-2 in the 300m with times of 35.31 and 35.57 turned in strong performances.  Gourde's performance was particularly impressive as it was a full half-second improvement from last year.
• Rookie Patrick Quinlan (Northampton, Mass. / Northampton) ran an impressive collegiate debut at 600m placing 4^th in 1:24.56.
• Sophomore Erez Needleman (Bronx, N.Y. / High School of American Studies at Lehman College) made his season debut after an early season injury. Needleman ran 2:04.15 in the 800m.
• Senior Max Whitmore (Wayne, N.J. / Newark Academy) and rookie Harper Pollio-Barbee (Philadelphia, Pa. / Penn Charter) continued their impressive string of mile races running 4:26.87 and 4:27.85 for 3^rd and 6^th.
• Rookie Breylen Ammen (Lincoln, Mass. / Lincoln Sudbury) had a great day in the pole vault, vaulting 4.10m for 4^th.  This was the first time for Ammen over 4 meters in college.
• Churchill Perry came back from the 300 to place 4^th in the triple jump with a distance of 13.13 meters.
• The meet was closed out with the rarely run 4x220 yard where the team of Gourde, Perry, McDonald, and Quinlan ran to the win with 1:32.42.