Bold opening: Two first-place wins by Ryker Brown underscore a standout day for Maine at the Black Bear Invitational.
The University of Maine hosted the Black Bear Invitational on Friday, December 12, welcoming the University of Maine at Fort Kent Bengals and the Husson University Eagles to the New Balance Indoor Track. The Black Bears finished with 106 points, signaling a strong home performance.
The meet opened with the Men’s Weight Throw, where senior Ryker Brown surged to the top spot with a 19.28-meter mark (63 feet 3 inches). Gavin McGarrity followed in second with 17.27 meters (56 feet 8 inches). Brown would again claim first in the Shot Put, reaching 16.26 meters (53 feet 4.25 inches), while Ryker Paradis earned second with 15.81 meters (51 feet 10.5 inches).
In the Long Jump, Will Rush edged the field with 6.97 meters (22 feet 10.5 inches). Conor Morin claimed second with 6.85 meters (22 feet 5.75 inches), and Billy Albertson rounded out the top three with 6.65 meters (21 feet 9.75 inches).
Thomas McCormack dominated the Pole Vault at 4.43 meters (14 feet 6.5 inches), with Luke Patterson taking second at 3.60 meters (11 feet 9.75 inches). In the High Jump, Ben Therriault won with 1.90 meters (6 feet 2.75 inches), tied by Luke Patterson at the same height for a share of the top spot.
Kaleb Colson led the mile run in 4:09.08, followed by Charlie Collins in second (4:09.88) and Carter Libby in third (4:14.03).
In the Triple Jump, Conor Morin claimed first with 14.22 meters (46 feet 7.75 inches), while Will Rush was second at 13.98 meters (45 feet 10.5 inches).
The 600 meters featured a Maine sweep: Ryan Fernstrom won in 1:23.16, with Jacob Robinson-Smey taking second in 1:25.28 as the Black Bears filled the top two spots.
Maine also seized the top three spots in the 60-meter hurdles, led by Myles Hang at 8.65 seconds. Ben Therriault followed in 8.72 seconds, and Ryan Fernstrom finished third in 9.28 seconds.
In the 60-meter dash, Cole Martin won with 6.90 seconds. Miles Gay placed second in 6.96 seconds, and Max Shapiro finished third in 7.04 seconds in his first collegiate home meet.
Charlie Collins topped the 3000-meter run with 8:32.35, with Eli Palmer in second (8:45.18) and Ethan Keller close behind in third (8:45.34).
Miles Gay claimed the 300-meter dash in 34.70 seconds, ahead of Andrew Card (34.86) and Nolan Feyler (35.60).
The 4x4000-meter Distance Medley Relay featured a Maine victory: Keller, Fernstrom, Dan Knight, and Kaleb Colson posted 10:29.19. A strong second-place finish came from Kyle McClellan, Luke Patterson, Aran Johnson, and Adam Bendetson at 10:33.77, with Eli Palmer, Owen Transue, Carter Libby, and Miles Quirion finishing third in 10:42.77.
The final event of the night, the 4x200-meter Relay, saw a Maine win as Albertson, Feyler, Gay, and Andrew Card clocked 1:30.69.
Looking ahead, Maine will open the spring semester at the Bates College Invitational on January 17.
-UMaine-
Key athletes mentioned include: Ryan Brown, Ryker Brown, Gavin McGarrity, Ryker Paradis, Will Rush, Conor Morin, Ben Therriault, Luke Patterson, Kaleb Colson, Charlie Collins, Carter Libby, Eli Palmer, Nolan Feyler, Miles Gay, Cole Martin, Jacob Robinson-Smey, Dan Knight, Kyle McClellan, Owen Transue, Aran Johnson, Adam Bendetson, and Myles Hang across events spanning throwing, jumping, running, and relays.
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