The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy outdoor track and field team had an outstanding weekend, as the Mariners set one school record and set numerous personal and season bests while placing 38th (seven points) at the ECAC Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

Additionally, senior distance runner Chris Kapfer qualified for the May 27-29 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the 5,000m run while competing in New Haven, Conn., at the IC4A Championships. Running with the top Division I runners from the Northeast, Kapfer clocked a personal-best 14:28.92. Though he did not automatically qualify (the "auto time" is 14:26), his mark currently ranks fifth in the nation and will likely send the Oregon native to Decatur, Ill. to compete for a national title. The NCAA Championships will be hosted this year by Millikin University.

Much of the Mariners' success at the ECAC Championships came courtesy of the quartet that makes up the 4x400m relay team --- seniors Louis Barbieri and (team captain) Todd Hoyt, along with junior twins Walter and William Hall. They broke their own school record with a sixth-place time of 3:18.67 in their relay.

Individually, Hoyt placed fifth in the 400m dash with a time of 49.07. Additionally, brothers Hall set personal records in the event when William (49.46) placed ninth, and Walter 11th (49.60).

The future looks bright for USMMA in the hurdles, as freshman Ben Hayes placed 11th in his first ECAC Championships in the 400m intermediate hurdles with his time of 56.04. The 4x100m relay team of senior Erik Corcoran, freshman Preston Housel, Barbieri and Dan Byrne crossed the finish line with a season-best mark of 43.82, while freshman Chris Parks finished off his first season in the 3,000m steeplechase with a 10th-place, 9:48.78 effort that nearly broke his personal record.

On Friday, senior Allen Hsiao leaped his way to a 12th place finish in the long jump, clearing a distance of 6.35 meters. Teammate Charles Mayrer threw a 39.22 meter toss in the discus throw, good enough for a 16th place finish.

Freshman Aaron Reimer closed out the Mariners competition on the day in the pole vault, soaring to a 20th place height of 4.07 meters.

Three top 20 finishes at the Division III Eastern College Athletic Conference Championships, Friday, April 14, at Williams College, were some of the highlights for the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy men's track and field team. The Mariners competed in a field of about 30 schools.

Senior Allen Hsiao (Collinsville, Ill./Collinsville) leaped his way to a 12th place finish in the long jump, clearing a distance of 6.35 meters.

Teammate Charles Mayrer threw a 39.22 meter toss in the discus throw, good enough for a 16th place finish.

Freshman Aaron Reimer (Crown Point, Ind./Crown Point) closed out the Mariners competition on the day in the pole vault, soaring to a 20th place height of 4.07 meters.

Head coach Yolanda Flamino and the Mariners look forward to Day 2 of ECAC competition, Saturday, May 15.