RICHMOND, Va. -- Coming off its highest finish in the PSAC Indoor Championships since 2019, the Kutztown University men's track and field team started the outdoor season with a bang, capturing 12 top five finishes at the Fred Hard Invitational, hosted by the Univeristy of Richmond Friday afternoon. 

On the track, the underclassmen runners stole the show in the outdoor season opener. Michael Fellin (Sheppton, Pa./Marian Catholic) captured second place in the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.20. Dekai Averett (Douglassville, Pa./Souderton) and Kyle Love (Lansdowne, Pa./Bonner-Prendergast) then captured PSAC marks in the 110-meter hurdles, finishing second and fourth respectively. 

Another freshman to earn a PSAC time was James Washburn (Shoreham, N.Y./Shoreham-Wading River), who finished second in the 400-meter dash with a time of 49.66. Domenick Wallace (Rockaway, N.J./Morris Hills) was the other runner to hit a PSAC time, running 1:56.63 in the 800-meters.

KU's throwers and jumpers all put it solid performances on Friday afternoon as well. Jacob Solonoski (Weatherly, Pa./Weatherly) got things going in the hammer throw, finishing eighth with a throw of 45.22-meters (149'1"). That not only earned him a PSAC mark, but also shattered his personal best by almost nine meters. In his collegiate debut, Kevin Givone (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth) earned third in the javelin throw. Anthony Helmstetter (Middlesex, N.J./Middlesex) finished third in the shot put, hitting a PSAC mark with a throw of 14.13-meters (46'4.25").

Golden Bear jumpers TJ White (Reading, Pa./Muhlenberg), Anthony DeFusco (Douglassville, Pa./Daniel Boone), Jason Mraz (Edison, N.J./Edison), and Nate Schaeffer (Mohrsville, Pa./Schuylkill Valley) all dominated in their individual events. White finished first in the high jump, clearing the bar at 1.85-meters. Mraz won the pole vault, followed by Schaeffer in second place. Defusco finished second in the long jump and then followed it up by winning the triple jump, setting a PSAC mark with a jump of 14.37-meters (47'1.75").

The day concluded with the 4x400-meter relay team of James Washburn (Shoreham, N.Y./Shoreham-Wading River), Matt Salazar (Rockaway, N.J./Morris Hills), JT Tamayo (Reading, Pa./Wilson), and Domenick Wallace (Rockaway, N.J./Morris Hills) finishing second with a time of 3:25.12.

The Golden Bears are back in action in two weeks at the Colonial Relays in Williamsburg, Va. The first day of events is on Thursday, March 30 at 3:30 p.m.
 

---

KUTZTOWN MEN'S RESULTS
FRED HARDY INVITATIONAL
MARCH 17, 2023 | RICHMOND, Va.

100m
2. Michael Fellin (Sheppton, Pa./Marian Catholic), 11.20

110m Hurdles
2. Dekai Averett (Douglassville, Pa./Souderton), 15.44, PSAC Qualifying 
4. Kyle Love (Lansdowne, Pa./Bonner-Prendergast), 15.64, PSAC Qualifying

200m
7. Michael Fellin (Sheppton, Pa./Marian Catholic), 23.05
8. Savaughn Hebron (Langhorne, Pa./Neshaminy), 23.06
14. Dekai Averett (Douglassville, Pa./Souderton), 23.66

400m
2. James Washburn (Shoreham, N.Y./Shoreham-Wading River), 49.66, PSAC Qualfying
8. Savaughn Hebron (Langhorne, Pa./Neshaminy), 51.23
10. JT Tamayo (Reading, Pa./Wilson), 52.30

800m
14. Domenick Wallace (Rockaway, N.J./Morris Hills), 1:56.63, PSAC Qulaifying
20. Matt Salazar (Rockaway, N.J./Morris Hills), 1:59.52

5000m
9. Jacob Huber (Bethlehem, Pa./Saucon Valley), 16:00.00
11. Port Habalar (Williamsport, Pa./South Williamsport), 16:14.30

Hammer Throw
8. Jacob Solonoski (Weatherly, Pa./Weatherly), 45.22m (149'1"), PSAC Qualifying

High Jump
1. TJ White (Reading, Pa./Muhlenberg), 1.85m (6'0.75")

Javelin 
3. Kevin Givone (Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth), 51.20m (167'11")
6. Anthony Helmstetter (Middlesex, N.J./Middlesex), 46.33m (152')

Long Jump
2. Anthony DeFusco (Douglassville, Pa./Daniel Boone), 6.53m (21'5.25")

Pole Vault
1. Jason Mraz (Edison, N.J./Edison), 4.45m (14'7.25")
2. Nate Schaeffer (Mohrsville, Pa./Schuylkill Valley), 4.30m (14'1.25")

Shot Put
3. Anthony Helmstetter (Middlesex, N.J./Middlesex), 14.13m (46'4.25"), PSAC Qualifying 

Triple Jump
1. Anthony DeFusco (Douglassville, Pa./Daniel Boone), 14.37m (47'1.75"), PSAC Qualifying

4x400m
2. Kutztown 'A': James Washburn (Shoreham, N.Y./Shoreham-Wading River), Matt Salazar (Rockaway, N.J./Morris Hills), JT Tamayo (Reading, Pa./Wilson), Domenick Wallace (Rockaway, N.J./Morris Hills), 3:25.12