AMHERST, Mass. – The Amherst College men's track and field team delivered a series of historic performances and massive personal bests this weekend at the UMass Flagship Opener. Competing against a deep field across the street at the UMass Amherst T&F Complex, the Mammoths were highlighted by a school record in the field and a dominant showing in the 10,000-meter run.
Schmidt Shatters School Record
The performance of the day in the field belonged to
Gavin Schmidt, who etched his name into the Amherst record books. Schmidt unleashed a massive throw in the discus, hitting a mark of 51.41 meters. The performance secured a first-place finish at the meet and officially set a new Amherst school record, establishing Schmidt as one of the premier throwers in the region.
Distance Squad
The Mammoths took over the track for the 10,000-meter run, led by a career day from
Ben Kasen. Kasen put together a masterclass in pacing to finish in 31:07.25, clocking a staggering 30-plus second personal record.
Amherst also showcased its future at the distance, as three Mammoths made their collegiate 10k debuts.
Carter Bengtson led the trio with a stellar fourth-place finish (31:05.08), followed by strong debuts from
Caleb Barnes (31:48.63) and
Jacob Connolly (32:35.83). All three navigated the grueling 25-lap race with composure, adding crucial momentum to the distance squad's outdoor campaign.
PRs on the Track and in the Pit
In the sprints, Ben "Moose" Davis continued his impressive season. Competing in the 400m dash, Ben powered through to a new personal record, showing off the speed that has become his trademark.
Over at the jump pits,
Bohan Zheng provided one of the biggest highlights in the triple jump. Zheng found a new gear on the runway, soaring to a massive personal best of 13.18m to take second place overall. He also added a strong sixth-place finish in the long jump (6.32m).
Up Next
With a new school record and a wave of PRs across the sprints, jumps, and distance events, the Mammoths continue to gear up for the NESCAC Championships.
