WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Saint Joseph's senior Brandon Ossont totaled 14 points in two events to lead the Saint Joseph's men's track and field squad to an eighth-place team finish in a field of nine teams as the Hawks opened their 2017 outdoor season at the 22nd Annual Monmouth Season Opener on Saturday afternoon. SJU finished with 41 points on the day.
Saint Joseph's earned 16 points out of its relays as both the 4x400m relay of freshman Aaron Lemma, senior Kevin Barry, Ossont, and freshman Will Davies (3:25.93) and the 4x800m relay of freshman Joey Angelina, freshman Colin Parker, sophomore Rory Houston, and sophomore Keelan O'Reilly (8:16.21) earned third-place, eight-point performances.
Ossont (50.33 PR), Lemma (51.06 PR), and Barry (51.09) placed ninth, 16th, and 17th to combine for nine points out of the 400m while Parker added two points in the 800m (1:58.54) for 12th in a field of 53.
Freshman Colin Gallagher turned in the second-fastest time by a freshman (8:47.29 PR) to place fifth in the 3000m, good for five points for the Crimson and Gray, while freshman David Bryant placed 12th in the 100m (11.47 PR) for four points.
Out of the jumps, sophomore high jumper Alec Arena placed fifth (1.84m PR) for four points, while senior Prince Charles Yakubu added a point in the triple jump (12.72m) for 14th overall.
Saint Joseph's returns to action at the 52nd Annual Colonial Relays, slated for this upcoming Thursday, March 30 through Saturday, April 1 at William and Mary's Zable Stadium in Williamsburg, Va. Events are scheduled to kick off at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday afternoon.