NEW YORK, N.Y. – For the first time this calendar year, the Kutztown men's track & field team was back competing. KU had a solid showing Saturday night at the College of New Jersey Lions Invitational, highlighted by six Golden Bears earn Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference qualifying marks.
 
Anthony DeFusco (Douglassville, Pa./Daniel Boone), TJ White (Reading, Pa./Muhlenberg), Jordon Floyd (Westampton, N.J./Rancocas Valley Regional), Jason Mraz (Edison, N.J./Edison) and Nate Schaeffer (Mohrsville, Pa./Schuylkill Valley) all earned the marks in field events, while Dekai Averett (Douglassville, Pa./Souderton) achieved it on the track. DeFusco, White, Floyd, Mraz and Averett all placed inside the top-five overall in their respective events.
 
Matt Salazar (Rockaway, N.J./Morris Hills) ran for a PR in the 500m at 1:06.20, tied for eighth all-time in program history, winning the event along the way. Domenick Wallace (Rockaway, N.J./Morris Hills) placed third in the 600m.
 
Kutztown's next meet will also be in the Empire State as KU competes at the Gotham Cup in Staten Island, N.Y., next Friday, Jan. 20, at 1 p.m.              
 
Kutztown Results
 
Weight Throw
8. Jacob Solonoski (Weatherly, Pa./Weatherly) – 13.66m (44-09.75)
11. Jason Staunton (East Meadow, N.Y./East Meadow) – 12.55m (41-02.25)
 
Long Jump
5. Anthony DeFusco (Douglassville, Pa./Daniel Boone) – 6.76m (22-02.25), PSAC-Qualifying
20. Tanner Karycki (Mount Carmel, Pa./Mount Carmel) – 6.05m (19-10.25)
23. Darien Clarke (Middletown, Del./Appoquinimink) – 5.91m (19-04.75)
 
High Jump
3. TJ White (Reading, Pa./Muhlenberg) – 1.93m (6-04.00), PSAC-Qualifying
4. Jordon Floyd (Westampton, N.J./Rancocas Valley Regional) – 1.93m (6-04.00), PSAC-Qualifying
9. Owen Weaver (Baldwinsville, Pa./C.W. Baker) – 1.78m (5-10.00)
 
Shot Put
11. Anthony Helmstetter (Middlesex, N.J./Middlesex) – 12.38m (40-07.50)
 
Pole Vault
5. Jason Mraz (Edison, N.J./Edison) – 4.40m (14-05.25), PSAC-Qualifying
7. Nate Schaeffer (Mohrsville, Pa./Schuylkill Valley) – 4.40m (14-05.25), PSAC-Qualifying
 
60H Prelim
3. Dekai Averett (Douglassville, Pa./Souderton) – 8.88Q, PSAC-Qualifying
12. Owen Weaver (Baldwinsville, Pa./C.W. Baker) – 9.32
13. Darien Clarke (Middletown, Del./Appoquinimink) – 9.33
 
60H Final
2. Dekai Averett (Douglassville, Pa./Souderton) – 8.64
 
60m Prelim
14. Michael Fellin (Sheppton, Pa./Marian Catholic) – 7.16
25. Kieran Aponte (Lansdale, Pa./North Penn) – 7.30
 
Mile
23. Port Habalar (Williamsport, Pa./South Williamsport) – 4:33.12
32. Jacob Huber (Bethlehem, Pa./Saucon Valley) – 4:39.99
35. Cody Schabener (Reading, Pa./Exeter Township) – 4:41.48
38. Kayden Platania (Buena, N.J./Buena Regional) – 4:42.44
 
600m
3. Domenick Wallace (Rockaway, N.J./Morris Hills) – 1:22.44
 
200m
25. James Washburn (Shoreham, N.Y./Shoreham-Wading River) – 23.39
38. Don Hill (Philadelphia, Pa./Neshaminy) – 23.85
39. Michael Fellin (Sheppton, Pa./Marian Catholic) – 23.89
48. Dekai Averett (Douglassville, Pa./Souderton) – 24.29
 
400m
12. Savaughn Hebron (Langhorne, Pa./Neshaminy) – 52.27
17. Don Hill (Philadelphia, Pa./Neshaminy) – 52.80
 
500m
1. Matt Salazar (Rockaway, N.J./Morris Hills) – 1:06.20, T-8th all-time at KU
7. Owen Weaver (Baldwinsville, Pa./C.W. Baker) – 1:09.43
 
800m
16. Port Habalar (Williamsport, Pa./South Williamsport) – 2:03.25
 
3000m
26. Adam Brocato (Reisterstown, Md./Calvert Hall) – 8:59.53
36. Jay Thompson (Wernersville, Pa./Conrad Weiser) – 9:17.38
 
4x400 Relay
4. Kutztown – 3:26.44