Daemen University Athletics

Western New York's Premier Division II Team

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Men's Track & Field 2/10/2018 4:40:00 PM Lea Sobieraski Athletic Communications Graduate Assistant

Wildcat Men Finish First In Five Different Events At Highlander Invitational

HOUGHTON, N.Y. – The Daemen College men's indoor track and field team competed in the Highlander Invitational for the second time this season, hosted by Houghton College at the Kerr-Pegula Fieldhouse today. Daemen placed first in five different events while setting three new school records.

The freshman phenom pair of Alonzo Rodriguez-Spencer (Buffalo, N.Y.) and Rodney Corbin (Williamsville, N.Y.) continued to lead the Daemen sprinters. Both rookies claimed individual titles in their respective events.

Rodriguez-Spencer placed first out of 20 runners in the 400 meter with a record-breaking time of 51.39 seconds. His time topped the previous benchmark of 52.80 seconds set by Niko Jemmison at the Brockport Mid-Season Classic in 2015. He also added a sixth-place finish in the 200-meter dash (23.58 seconds).

Corbin continued his dominance in the 60-meter dash, finishing first in the prelims with a time of 7.18 seconds. He went on to top the field in the final heat, crossing the finish line in 7.06 seconds. Corbin also took part in the 200-meter dash, placing fourth out of 32 entrants (23.50 seconds)

Junior long distance specialist Lucas Canales (Ithaca, N.Y.) was also in the record-setting mood today. Canales took third place in the 3,000-meter run with a record-breaking time of 9:09.56. Canales eclipsed the four-year benchmark of 9:10.65, established by Jeremy Rushok in 2014.

Additional highlights on the track this afternoon included top 10 finishes in the 60-meter hurdles, 1-mile run, 200-meter sprint, and 3,000-meter run. Zach Laird (Alexander, N.Y.) placed fourth in the 60m hurdles (9.44 seconds), Nate Louk (Jane Lew, W.Va) finished fifth out of 23 runners in the mile (4:47.91), while Justin Petrocy (Elma, N.Y.) finished eighth in the 200m (23.96 seconds), and Josh Bodnar added a sixth-place finish in the 3,000m (9:22.35).

In relay action, Daemen claimed both the 4x200 and 4x400 relay titles. Corbin, Rodriguez-Spencer, Laird, and Andrew Greenaway (Brooklyn, N.Y.) made up Daemen's 4x200-meter relay entry; the quartet finished first with a time of 1:35.87. The 4x400 relay team of Jonathan Schmidt (Clarence Center, N.Y.), Tyler Compo (Lancaster, N.Y.), Petrocy, and Louk topped the field of seven, crossing the finish line in 3:37.02.

In field events, Laird finished first out of 21 participants in the shot put with a heave of 13.77 meters. Teammate Sullivan Keller (Alden, N.Y.) had a throw of 12.69 meters in the shot put, good for a third-place showing. Keller also added a fourth-place finish in the weight throw (11.49 meters).

The Wildcats return to The College at Brockport for the second Brockport Golden Eagle Invitational of the indoor season which is set for Saturday, Feb. 17th at the Special Events & Recreation Center.

For breaking news and continuing coverage of the Daemen men's and women's track and field teams, follow @DaemenAthletics and @DaemenTRACK on Twitter.

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