NORTHHAMPTON, Mass. – The Castleton men's track and field team opened their season at the Mary Grinaker Invitational this Saturday, kicking their season off strong by setting three new school records in the process.
 
Freshman Jon Hendley was superb in his track debut, finishing first overall in the mile (4:46.15) and second in the 3000-meter run (10:19.10), with both times serving as new program bests. Jack Wanders finished ninth in the mile with a time of 6:21.10, while Nate Forgan was close behind Hendley in the 3000-meter, crossing the line in fifth with a time of 11:01.03.
 
The Spartans also swept the relays in Saturday's meet, claiming the 4x200 relay with a time of 1:38.73 before Brandon Ryan, Reilly Flanders, Wayne Alexander, and David Harvey comnined another program record in the 4x400 relay, crossing the finish line at 3:42.88.
 
In the sprints, Flanders (7.42) and Charles Govan (7.74) finished in fifth and eighth respectively in the 60-meter dash before Harvey and Macalyster Perry finished second and fourth in the 60-meter hurdles. Alexander claimed his first victory of the season in the 800-meter run, tying Trinity's Evan Farnan for first with a time of 2:09.58.
 
For the afternoon's field events, Kaleb Swett kicked off his season with a sixth-place finish in the high jump before Harvey, Britain Goodemote and Govan claimed third, sixth, and eighth in the long jump. Goodemote also earned a second-place finish in the triple jump with a leap of 12.25 meters in his first collegiate track meet.
 
Returners Cody York and Harrison Leumbruno-Nicholson placed fifth and sixth in the shot put before the day concluded with a second place finish in the weight throw for York with a toss of 13.55 meters.
 
The Spartans return to action Saturday, December 10 to compete in the Utica Holiday Classic.