SMITHFIELD, R.I. – First-years Harrison Dow and Santi Benbow were the top Division III finishers in their events as the Amherst College men's track and field team kicked off the weekend on Friday at the Black and Gold Invitational at Bryant University.

In a meet featuring athletes from all three NCAA divisions as well as unattached runners, Dow finished fourth overall in his first collegiate 10,000m with a time of 31:06.52. Sophomore George Cahill was close behind, placing sixth with a personal-best time of 31:17.27. Both times rank among the top 20 in Division III so far this season.

Benbow placed fourth overall in the javelin with a throw of 53.06m and junior Kevin Ryu was ninth overall with a mark of 46.81m, both season bests in the second meet of the season and the top two finishes of Division III athletes in the event.

Only three events were contested on Friday with the rest of the meet taking place on Saturday (March 30) beginning at 10:30 a.m. The meet is team scored and after the first day of action, the Mammoths are tied for fifth overall with Bates as the top Division III teams in the team standings with 15 points. Division I Brown leads with 24 points.