By Lee Finkelstein

The KU men’s track and field team had four new Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) qualifiers on Friday, March 27, at the Fred Hardy Invitational, hosted by the University of Richmond.

Both of the Golden Bears competing in the 3000m steeplechase overcame the conference standard. Alex Watson led the way in fifth place with a time of 9:45.37, while Brian Taylor had a career-best 9:51.14 for seventh.

Jack Inglis battled for second place in a four-man 10,000m race, finishing with a career-best time of 32:57.38.

In the jump pits, Tyler Brooks took his first attempt of the outdoor season and qualified in the triple jump, leaping 13.60m for sixth place.

Out of four KU pole vaulters, only Sean Burns and Brandon Raguz were able to record heights. The duo each surpassed 4.30 meters for existing PSAC cuts.

In the field, Chris Varichione scored an existing mark in the hammer throw, placing sixth at 46.63m.

Naeb Mengisteab led a group of four KU athletes in the 1500m run, placing 21st in 4:04.86. Brad Mayer finished next in 34th with a season-best time (4:12.18).

The Maroon and Gold also had four runners compete in the 5000m run. CJ Bauer, Chris Coates, and Justin Gum all finished back-to-back, led by Bauer in 16th place. Both Bauer and Gum earned themselves career-best times.

On Saturday, the KU men’s track and field quartet of Brad Mayer, Naeb Mengisteab, Matt Devlin and Andrew Thompson broke a nine-year school record during the final day of the University of Richmond’s Fred Hardy Invitational.

The four-man crew ran the 4×800 relay in 7:47.31, besting the KU record of 7:48.6 set in 2006. Seniors Mayer and Devlin ran the first and third legs, respectively, Mengisteab, a junior, took off second, and Thompson, a sophomore, ran the anchor leg to bring home the record. They finished in second place behind a squad from Mount St. Mary’s (7:45.32).

Tyler Brooks was the only Golden Bear to post a PSAC qualifying mark on Saturday. After his qualifying performance in the triple jump on Friday, Brooks earned third in the long jump at 6.90 meters.

Freshman C.J. Lindsay Jr. led the way for the KU sprinters. Lindsay placed 14th in the 100m with a time of 11.48, and posted a season-best 22.81 in the 200m for 15th place.

KU returns to action Saturday, April 4 at a tri-meet with Bloomsburg and East Stroudsburg. Bloomsburg will host the tri-meet.

The Golden Bears are clicking lately and look to carry the momentum from this previous race, while also taking down fellow PSAC foes.