Gagne Sets Two School Records to Lead Men's Track at Wildcat Invitational

DURHAM, N.H. – Justin Gagne broke two school records, including one that had stood for more than 50 years to lead the University of Maine men's track and field team at the non-team scoring Wildcat Invitational on Saturday.

Gagne threw the shot put 55-08.25, breaking the school record of 55-07.25 set by Arnold Delaite in 1961. The throw placed him second in the meet and was an IC4A-qualifying mark.

Gagne also won the discus with a throw of 166-09, smashing the previous school record of 163-02 set by Alan Sherrard in 1979. The throw also qualifies for the IC4A Championships.

Frank Del Duca also qualified for the IC4A Championships, running 10.83 in the 100 meters to take runner-up honors and notch a top-6 school time. He was followed in fourth place by August Ibekilo with a time of 11.20.

In the 200, Daniel Roukey took second in a top-10 school time of 22.24 and was followed in fourth place by Jake Leithiser with a time of 22.64. Leithiser also won the 400 in a top-6 school time of 49.16.

Michael Kennedy took fourth in the 800 with a time of 1:56.13 while Ryan Hardiman was second in the 1,500 with a time of 3:58.12.

David Currier notched a top-10 school time in the 5,000 as he won with 14:53.48 and was followed in second by Spencer McElwain with a time of 15:12.24.

Taylor Phillips won the steeplechase in a top-6 school time of 9:24.43 while the 4X100 relay team of Del Duca, Ibekilo, Nathaniel Meade and Roukey took second and just missed an IC4A-qualifying time with 42.60.

Meade also was runner-up in the long jump with 21-10.25 and was third in the triple jump with a top-10 school mark of 44-06.25.

Also competing were James Reed and Trevor England who are redshirting and competed as unattached. Reed won the 110 hurdles in a time of 14.46 while England was second in the triple jump with a leap of 45-09.00.

The Black Bears continue next weekend at Holy Cross.