Final Results in pdf

Sophomore Earnest Cleary (Detroit, MI / Ferndale) won his first event of the year, while sophomore Pat Liederbach (Petoskey, MI / Petoskey) broke the school the school record in the 5000m as the UDM men's track and field team opened up its season at the Blue & Gold Invite, held on Friday in South Bend, IN.

“A fantastic start for us to have this many guys running at their best this early.” said head coach Guy Murray.

In all, the Titans set 11 personal records on the day.

Cleary won the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.00, a new career best. The Titans also had other runners place in the top sixth as junior Deonte Osayande (Detroit, MI / Winans Academy) was second in a career time of 7.09, while junior Sam Jones (Detroit, MI / U-D Jesuit) earned sixth with a new PR of 7.32.

Liederbach led a trio of Titans to top finishes in the 5000m setting a new Detroit record with a run of 14:37.51, taking sixth in the process. Sophomores Ryan Ayala (Coopersville, MI / Coopersville) and Kevin Smalley (Gladwin, MI / Gladwin) were right behind him with two personal highs of their own as Ayala claimed eighth in 15:56.65 and Smalley 10th in 16:13.28.

“We were hoping for a PR and Pat made the most of a great opportunity to get a fast one, when the pace went a bit faster than expected.” noted Murray.

Osayande and Jones also ran well in the 200 taking third and seventh in times of 22.59 and 22.84, respectively, as well as setting another two indoor career marks. Sophomore Lesley Hanna (Exuma, Bahamas / Coakley) claimed an indoor career time with a run of 48.90, good for second in the 400.

Graduate senior Eric Christy (St. Clair, MI / St. Clair) and senior John LaRocca (Eastpointe, MI / De LaSalle Collegiate) tallied two good runs in the 500m as Christy placed sixth with a time of 67.00, while LaRocca set a new collegiate best crossing the finish line at 67.12.

The 4x400-meter relay turned in a good time as the team of Christy, Hanna, LaRocca and Osayande finished fifth clocked at 3:23.03.

“No rust with our sprint group,” said Murray. “They were chomping at the bit to get out there and proved they are ready to build on their success from last year.”

Junior Alex Gould's (Comstock Park, MI / Comstock Park) 4:29.41 time in the mile was his best career effort, landing him sixth in the race, while freshman Aviram Campbell's (Yale, MI / Yale) debut in the 60-meter hurdles was very successful as the rookie took home second place in 8.75.

Junior Adam Mayhew (Richland, MI / Gull Lake) earned sixth in the shot put with a heave of 14.28m, while taking seventh in the weight with a 49'11"/15.21m throw.

The Titans will be back on the track next Friday, Dec. 5, when they participate in the Macomb Opener.