PITTSFORD, NY – An outstanding start to the season continued for the University of Rochester men's track and field team on Saturday at the Nazareth College Conference Challenge Cup at the Golisano Training Center.
 
Overall, the Yellowjackets compiled six wins, 17 All-Atlantic Regional qualifiers, six top-50 NCAA Division III performances, four meet records and four school records.
 
Rochester finished second of ten teams in the team scoring to SUNY Geneseo, falling 152-149.5. In the conference team scoring, the SUNYAC took honors with Geneseo and Cortland combining for 263 points. The Yellowjackets were paired with Ithaca and scored 223 team points, representing the Liberty League.
 
Mitch Lienert, Scott Sikorski and Cole Goodman provided the school records for UR.
 
Lienert actually broke three records, setting the 60 meter dash record twice, once in the prelims and once in the finals. He ran 6.99 seconds in the prelims and improved to 6.94 seconds in the finals, ending as runner-up in the race. Teammate P.J. London, who had held the previous school record with Lienert, ended third in the race with a 7.09 second run.
 
The juniors record breaking day continued in the 200 meters, as he ran 22.07 seconds to earn the event win. The time was a meet record, AAR qualifier and currently ranks #7 in Division III this season. That time broke the old record of 22.12 seconds by Brant Crouse from the 2017 season.
 
Sikorski eclipsed a 40-year old record in the 3000 meters. His time of 8:22.13 currently ranks #10 in Division III and passes the 8:22.34 mark set by Glenn Lamb back in 1983. The senior won the race as well and was also a regional qualifier.
 

Sophomore jumper Cole Goodman provided the last UR record on the day, breaking his own school record in the long jump with a 7.21 meter leap. His distance was also a meet record and is the current #5 mark in Division III this season. Goodman was a double-winner on the day also jumping 14.55 meters in the triple jump, moving into #6 in the Division III performance list in that event as well.
 
Rochester had another meet record in the 4x200 meter relay with Lienert, Gabe Lundy, London and Peter Brodnik running a time of 1:30.81 in a first place performance.
 
The Yellowjacket weight throwers produced four top-8 results and three AAR performances. Jordan Johnson led the group with a 16.65 meter toss, a new personal-best which also ranks inside the NCAA Division III top-50. Joining him as a regional qualifier was Nolan Ragland in third (15.77 meters), and James O'Neill in fourth (15.65 meters). Joe Bumpus ended in seventh.
 
O'Neill and Johnson also earned regional qualifying marks in the shot put, both placing in the top-5. O'Neill was third with a 14.37 meter distance, while Johnson ended his solid day with a fifth place result after a 14.15 meter toss. Ragland ended eighth and added to UR's team score.
 
In addition to Sikorski's win in the 3k, teammates Zach Spergel (7th) and Nick Gaitanis (13th) were also regional qualifiers with their times. Spergel finished in 8:40.45 and Gaitanis was clocked with a time of 8:45.69.
 
During the 5000 meters, Vishal Yalamanchili ended in 15:23.77, placing fifth and qualified for regionals. Griffin Weiner ended one spot behind in 15:26.82, another regional qualifying performance. Nate Brunacini ended in eight place.
 
Lundy and Brodnik were also regional qualifiers in their individual events, in the 400 meters and 60 meter hurdles, respectively. Lundy was fourth in the 400 in 50.91 seconds and Brodnik ended tenth in a loaded field, clocking in with 8.70 seconds.
 
Rochester's jumpers ended with four top-8 finishers in the long jump and three scorers in the high jump. In the long jump, Frederick Liu was fourth in 6.63 meters, Manny Eribo ended seventh with a leap of 6.44 meters and Kyle Lane was eighth in 6.38 meters.
 
During the high jump, Aadit Jain, Sam Lorenzetti and Aeden Angelone all cleared 1.81 meters. Jain tied for fourth based on misses while Lorenzetti and Angelone ended tied for seventh.
 
Other scorers on the day included Lundy in the 200 meters (6th, 23.12 seconds), Cody Reeth in the pole vault (8th, 4.10 meters) and the 4x400 meter relay team of Gabe Thyne, Max Creamer, Brendan McCollum and Christian Voloshen (8th, 3:32.73).