CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Hosting the annual Engineer's Cup at Steinbrenner Track, the MIT men's track and field team outlasted rival RPI, 180-158.5, to win the competition on Saturday afternoon. The Cambridge Engineers recorded nine events wins but displayed tremendous depth in some of those events to hold on to the team title for the sixth year in a row.
MIT shined in the middle-distance events, as Tech harriers accounted for the top five spots in the 800m and swept the top four in the 1500 meters. Eric Safai surprised the field, winning the 800 out of the slower section with a time of 2:00.93. Patrick Marx took second in 2:01.73. Paul Welle (2:02.30), Richard Prevost (2:02.67) and Logan Daum (2:02.75) came through after Marx.
Justin Bullock led the MIT effort in the 1500, as his time of 4:06.03 was nearly three seconds faster than his closest competitor. Dawit Zewdie was second (4:08.92) while Roy Wedge and Jay McKenna rounded out the scoring for the Cardinal and Gray.
Stephen Serene and Benjamin Mattocks went one-two at 5000 meters, as Serene finished in 15:42.84 and Mattocks came through just over two seconds behind.
Josh Duncavage had a solid all-around effort for Tech, scoring in four events, including his first place finish in the 100-meter dash (11.02 seconds). Duncavage took second in the 400 hurdles, behind teammate Nick Leonard. He was also part of the first place 4x100m relay, joining Leonard, Tyler Singer-Clark and Nathan Peterson, to finish in 43.82 seconds.
Peterson earned first-place points in the pole vault, clearing 15-1.00 feet. Cyrus Vafadari was second with a vault of 14-7.25 feet, more than seven inches better than his seeded height.
MIT's other event wins came from Paul Welle in the 3000m Steeplechase (9:41.58) and Jackson Wirekoh in the triple jump (42-4.00 feet).
Next Saturday, Apri 9, the Cardinal and Gray will take on Bates College, Colby College and the University of Southern Maine, in a meet hosted by Bates.
