Records Fall, Aronov Qualifies for DIII New England's in Men's Track and Field Season Opener

BOSTON, Mass. – The Wentworth Institute of Technology men's indoor track and field team opened the 2018-2019 in style, as the Leopards posted several personal and school records on Saturday afternoon at the UMass Boston Invite.

"It showed that our team has been working hard in the off season," said Wentworth head coach Dan Roark. "We have many new additions to the team that made an impact today. We did really well in the jumps, and our distance guys were able to put up good times with cross country training. We have a way to go but this is an exciting start and I'm looking forward to what this season will bring."

One of Wentworth's new faces is junior Joe Aronov (Andover, Mass.), who highlighted the successful day as Wentworth's first-ever competitor in the pole vault, and set the school record with a vault of 4.15m. Not only did his mark place him second overall and first among his fellow collegians, but Aronov additionally qualified for the New England Division III Championships to be held February 22 and 23 at Harvard University.

Hunter Wintle represented Wentworth in the triple jump, and finished with a best mark of 12.17m, while Carter Richmond followed a meter behind (11.14m).

Newcomer Luis Godoy (Newton, Mass.) also had a day in the field, setting the school record of 11.28m in the shot put. Junior Zachary Shelton (North Attleboro, Mass.) tossed the shot put 9.16m, while sophomore Jake Sousa (Somerville, mass.) and freshman Vikranth Vakati (Canton, Mass.) were just behind at 9.11m and 9.07m, respectively.

Another addition to the team, freshman Josue Soto Lora (Dorchester, Mass.), placed 20^th overall and first for Wentworth in the 500m run with a 1:14.31 finish. Sophomore Alexis Umana (Revere, Mass.) and senior Chris Kaberle (Pelham, N.H.) soon followed just a second later at 1:15.04 and 1:15.58.

For the distance leaders, senior Josh Gangemi (Norton, Mass.) and sophomore Wes Brimeyer (Dubuque, Iowa) started the day with PR's in the 5k, as Gangemi took 11^th overall at 16:04.08. Brimeyer crossed the finish line at 16:59.67 and took 31^st place overall. Fresh off cross country training, sophomore Tyler Cosma (Center Moriches, N.Y.) finished the mile at 4:49.03, good for 22^nd place. Classmate Will Allen (West Hartford, Conn.) soon followed at 4:50.01.

In the short sprints, freshman Oested Mondesir (Boston, Mass.) took first for the Leopards and 63^rd overall in the 60m dash with a 7.61 finish. Junior Dan Padula (Hanover, Mass.) clocked in at 7.65 as Wentworth's next finisher.

Sophomore Marina Schmid (Mendon, Mass.) represented Wentworth on the women's side, and kicked things off with a 10.81 finish in the 60m hurdles. Schmid later joined the Leopards in the jump pit, and made a 4.44m mark in the long jump, which ties her personal best.   

Wentworth returns to competition on Saturday, January 5 at the USM Open in Gorham, Maine.

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