NORTON, Mass. — Sophomore Gael Vera (Westminster, Mass.) won the 60 meters with the fourth-fastest time in school history to lead the Wheaton College (Mass.) men's track & field team today at the Wheaton Post-Season Qualifier at Beard Field House on the campus of Wheaton in Norton, Mass.

The Lyons registered 18 personal-record marks during the meet.

Vera posted a time of 6.99 in the 60 meters and followed that with a third-place showing in the high jump with the seventh-best mark in program annals with a height of 1.92 meters. Wheaton junior Kevin Smith (Norfolk, Mass.) placed sixth in the high jump with a personal-best effort of 1.77 meters. 

Senior Nick Lacroix (Bedford, N.H.) turned in a personal-record time of 9:03.81 to win the 3000 meters for the 10th-fastest mark in program history. Sophomore Nathan Pires (Yarmouth, Maine) placed sixth with a season-best clip of 9:19.24 and first year Will Doyle (Milton, Mass.) finished ninth with a season-best time of 9:43.77. Senior Lucas MacKenzie (Saint Albans, Vt.) also posted a personal-record time in the race at 9:51.35 to finish 11th for the Lyons. In addition, Doyle placed sixth in the pole vault with a mark of 2.95 meters. Sophomore Gavin Landry (Sebago, Maine) also claimed first on the day with a time of 8.40 in the 60-meter hurdles, while sophomore Joshua Wright (Gorham, Maine) finished fifth in the sprint with a personal-record time of 8.88. First year Liam Reagan (Scarborough, Maine) also posted a personal-best mark of 9.17 in the race to place seventh. 

Sophomore Aidan Greenleaf (Topsham, Maine) finished second in the 400-meters following a time of 51.18 and senior Aris Giatrakos (Stoughton, Mass.) boasted a mark of 53.05 to finish seventh in the race. First year Nolan Bushnell (Rochester, Mass.) also enjoyed a runner-up performance, clocking in at 2:00.28 for Wheaton. 

The Lyons placed third in the 4X400-meter relay behind Giatrakos, junior Andrew Fortin (South Dartmouth, Mass.), senior Nathan Plympton (East Greenwich, R.I.) and senior Dante Marciano's (Bristol, Conn.) combined time of 3:44.02.

Wheaton senior Kai Hillier (Hinesburg, Vt.) narrowly missed his personal-best with a time of 4:16.48 to place third in the mile, ahead of sophomore Dan McIntyre (Keene, N.H.), who did turn in a personal-record mark of 4:32.91 to finish seventh. First year David Kadiri (Dracut, Mass.) made his collegiate debut by finishing fifth in the 200 meters with a time of 23.37. Classmate Tyler Lamonde (Swansea, Mass.) placed eighth in the race with a time of 23.62 and senior GJ Mualis (Taunton, Mass.) was 10th with a clip of 24.16. First year Eli Pinney (Brockton, Mass.) finished fourth with a personal-record leap of 6.02 meters in the long jump.  

Senior Griffen Copp (Littleton, Mass.) led the Lyons' throwers with a heave of 13.18 meters for the third-best mark in school history in the shot put and a sixth-place effort. Sophomore Kieran Templeton (Glens Falls, N.Y.) also posted a personal-best in the event with a distance of 10.73 meters to place 18th. First year Nick Barbee (Manchester, N.H.) turned in the sixth-best toss in school annals in the weight throw at 12.19 meters to finish 11th. Junior Logan Quinn (Portsmouth, R.I.) finished 12th with a throw of 11.59 meters and Templeton was 14th with a distance of 11.46 meters. 

Wheaton returns to the track on Saturday, February 28 when it travels to The Track at New Balance in Boston, Mass. to compete in the New England DIII Indoor Regional Championship.