HOUGHTON, N.Y. – A new school record and several top performances highlighted the first indoor competition of the season for the St. Bonaventure men's track team Friday night at the Houghton December Classic.

Senior Christian Figueroa broke his own school record in the 200 meters as he turned in a run of 22.71, besting his previous top time of 23.00 posted in last year's Atlantic 10 Championships. He won his heat race and turned in the seventh-fastest time out of 53 competitors at the meet.

Sophomore Aiden Konetsky shined in the mile with a personal best run of 4:34.94, good for second out of 48 entrants in Friday's meet. Classmate Layne Haught posted the fifth-fastest time of the afternoon with his own PR at 4:38.59 while freshman Michael Binkowski made his Bonnies debut in eighth at 4:44.16.

Junior Aidan Hurley also was strong in the 600, winning his heat and placing second overall with an effort of 1:26.10 which will stand as his personal best and as well as second individually in school history for the event and best since 1974.

Freshman Kohler Preston impressed in his debut for the 400 meters, leading the team and placing fourth out of 33 finishers with his run of 51.15. That time immediately jumps Preston to third individually in the Bonnies records. Figueroa came right behind at 51.35.

In the 5000 meters, senior Casey Malloy paced the team with a fifth-place finish of 15:52 out of 24 competitors. Classmate Ethan Luce was eighth (16:08) with freshman Alexander Rennick making his college track debut in ninth at 16:22 which also moves into the Bonnies individual top-10 times at seventh in the record book.

For relay action, the team of Figueroa, Preston, Henry Morris and Cameron Ogletree posted the third-fastest 4x400 time in program history (3:34.80).

QUOTES FROM HEAD COACH BOB MACFARLANE
"Our athletes showed exactly what we needed to see: effort, courage and a willingness to compete. That's the foundation of what we'll build this season. We had athletes trying new events, athletes stepping up when things didn't go as planned, and athletes showing that the work put in during preseason is starting to pay off.

"We saw strong starts, smart racing and grit in the final stretch. The relays showed teamwork and determination. These early season meets aren't about perfection; they're about seeing where we are and where we need to go and this gave us a clear picture."

UP NEXT
St. Bonaventure breaks for the semester and will return to competition after the holidays as the track season begins in full at the Bucknell Invitational on Jan. 24.

BONNIES RESULTS

60m hurdles
12. Henry Morris – 11.03
13. Ben Dillon – 12.23

60 meters
31. Cameron Ogletree – 7.35

200 meters
8. Christian Figueroa – 22.71 * - SCHOOL RECORD
19. Kohler Preston – 23.56
33. Cameron Ogletree – 24.17

400 meters
4. Kohler Preston – 51.15
5. Christian Figueroa – 51.35
12. Henry Morris – 53.15
15. Kieran Maguire – 53.35
30. Matthew Maciejewski – 59.84

600 meters
2. Aidan Hurley – 1:26.10 (PR)

800 meters
7. Ryan Umiker – 2:00.95
12. Michael Binkowski – 2:10.68

Mile
2. Aiden Konetsky – 4:34.94 (PR)
5. Layne Haught – 4:38.59 (PR)
8. Michael Binkowski – 4:44.16
12. Kevin Renner – 4:45.85
13. Lucas Catarella – 4:45.96
18. Carter Stevens – 4:55.39
23. Nate Viele – 4:58.24
25. Tyler Schott – 4:58.44

3000 meters
13. Aiden Konetsky – 9:44.18
16. Layne Haught – 9:50.03
17. Kevin Renner – 9:50.53
18. Lucas Catarella – 9:55.41
19. Carter Stevens – 9:59.87
20. Nate Viele – 10:10.15
21. Tyler Schott – 10:17.01

5000 meters
5. Casey Malloy – 15:52.80
8. Ethan Luce – 16:08.83
9. Alexander Rennick – 16:22.17
10. Jack Handman – 16:40.53
11. Canton Wetzel – 16:57.88
12. Sam Tomm – 17:11.34 (PR)
14. Joseph Caruso – 17:41.89

4x400 relay
3. Morris, Ogletree, Figueroa, Preston – 3:34.80
6. Maciejewski, Riley, Hurley, Umiker – 3:42.66
 

*- Personal best times only designated for returning student-athletes with prior Bonnies college competition

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