COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – Despite less than ideal competing conditions, the Ursinus Men's Track & Field team kicked off their 2023 outdoor season in style at their annual home Spring Invitational on Saturday at Patterson Field.
 
 
 
Prior to the meet, the Bears honored their senior class between the two teams as a part of senior day ceremonies.
 
 
 
Senior Isaiah Battle highlighted the meet by smashing the Ursinus Hammer Throw record in the opening hour of the meet and won the event with his mark of 171-2 ft. His throw bested the one-year old previous record in the event by Nick Galbraith on his mark of 169-6 ft. that was set last season. Battle led a 1-2 finish in the hammer with classmate Tim Holzapfel, who recorded a throw of 166-8 ft. that bested his previous career best mark by 13 feet. Sophomore Tom Wood finished sixth in the hammer with his mark of 117-9 ft while also leading the Bears in the shot put on his throw of 45-9 ft. to finish third. Battle followed in the shot put with a throw of 45-9 and senior Pat Patterson-Zuber finished seventh with a 40-11.5. In the discus, Battle finished second with his mark of 138-1 ft. and sophomore Parker Howell impressed with his career best mark of 112-4 ft. to finish seventh overall. Three Bears earned top-five finishes in the javelin which was led by sophomore Anthony Peloro in second on his throw of 154-10. Junior Eric Tanz placed third with his mark of 148-9 and sophomore Eric Sugarman recorded a fifth-place finish at 140-6 ft.
 
 
 
 
Senior Daniel Tabor bested his previous career best time of 11.83 in the 100 meter dash and led a 1-2 finish in the event with freshman Aiden Tobin. Tabor edged Tobin by .6 seconds with his time of 11.20. It was the second of two 1-2 finishes on the day with Tabor and Tobin as Tabor won the 200 meters with a time of 22.50. Tobin finished second with a 22.60 and junior Colin Ney continued the Bears run in third with his mark of 23.14. Junior Devon Greaves finished eighth in the 200 with his career best time of 23.52 before topping the field in the 110 meter hurdles with a career best mark of 16.32. Senior Payton Stanziani won the 400 meter dash with a time of 51.03 and sophomore Brett Mathis finished fifth with a career best time of 52.76.


Freshman David Piotrowski finished second in the high jump after clearing the bar at 5-8.75 ft. while junior Michael Agbeye placed fifth with his jump of 5-5 ft. Sophomore Ken Komatsu earned a runner-up finish in the pole vault with his mark of 12-5.50 ft.
 
 
 
A pair of freshman paced the Bears in the 5,000 meters as Ryan Martin finished fifth in the race with his time of 15:40.38 and was followed in sixth by Liam Johnston at a 15:40.45. Sophomore Christian Rosado finished fifth in the 1500 meters with a time of 4:16.71.
 
 
 
The Bears return to action on Saturday, April 1st as they will compete in the Muhlenberg Invitational starting at 10:00 a.m.