WENHAM, Mass. – The Roger Williams University Men's Track & Field team placed Second at the Conference of New England (CNE) Championships as the event wrapped up on Saturday, coming down to a nail-biting finish.
 
Hartford dethroned the three-time defending conference champions in Roger Williams, compiling 167 points to Roger Williams 153. The Hawks held the lead before the calculation of the shot put.
 
In the steeplechase, Eli Labell posted a third-place time of 10:03.83, setting a new personal best time. In the pole vault, Justin Dickson finished fourth, with a height of 3.95m. Nate Muller of Wentworth took the top spot with a height of 4.40m, setting his new career best.
 
In the long jump, Sam Bielawa had a distance of 6.50m, finishing third in the event, behind Daniel Chewning and Will Hughes of Gordon with distances of 6.77m and 6.52m, respectively.
 
Dickson and Jordan Kellis finished second and third, respectively, earning the Hawks 14 points in total. Dickson placed second with a throw of 51.83m, and Kellis placed third, throwing for 47.84m. In the hammer throw, Napoleon Suderman and Enrique Maldonado finished in third and fourth, respectively with throws of 48.27m and 46.73m, both setting personal bests.
 
Rounding out the opening day, Ronald Nolin set the bar with a high jump of 1.95m taking the title in the event. Nolin's jump set a personal best.
 
On Saturday, the Hawks' 4x100 relay team of Griffin Hebert, Joey Deluca, Constantine Georgopoulous, and Jayden Rinaldni posted a 44.32 time in the event, finishing fifth to collect four points for the Hawks. In the 1500m run, Max Hargreaves was the top finisher, securing a time of 4:28.43, while Colby Winn added a time of 4:36.88.
 
In the 110 hurdles, Aleck Isbester and Griffin Hebert finished first and second, respectively, posting times of 15.65 and 15.86 on the day, tallying 18 points for RWU. Jon Gladston and Jack Bielawa secured points for Roger Williams with second and sixth-place finishes, respectively, with times of 50.67 and 52.06. Gladstone secured a personal best in the event.
 
In the 100, Georgopoulos finished eighth, securing a point with an 11.49 time, while Caden Shelton and Joey Deluca each finished just outside of scoring position with 11.56 and 11.61 times, respectively. The 800 saw Oliver Polster secure six points for RWU with a time of 1:59.61 on the track, with the best time of his collegiate career.
 
In the 400 hurdles, Griffin Hebert and Jack Bielawa secured top-three finishes, with Hebert earning the individual championship with a 56.08 and Jack Bielawa finishing third with a 57.11, both personal bests.
 
Gladstone added a 22.94 time at the 200, securing four points, and Colin Czuchra added two points with a 15:42.99 time in the 5000, a new personal best. Ryan Cotugno just missed scoring, finishing in ninth with a 16:11.76 time.
 
The Hawks placed third in the 4x400 relay, with Gladstone, Jack Bielawa, Burke Mattey and Nathan Labossiere teaming for a time of 3:28.13.
 
Turning to field events, Napoleon Suderman and Enrique Maldonado placed second and fourth, respectively, pulling in 13 points for Roger Williams. Suderman's throw of 45.95m on his fourth attempt, and Maldonado's throw of 38.78m secured points in the discus.
 
In the triple jump, brothers Sam Bielawa and Jack Bielawa placed first and second, respectively, adding 16 points. Sam Bielawa had a jump of 14.18m, a new personal best, and Jack Bielawa recorded his personal best with a 13.02m jump.
 
In the final field event of the day, Suderman placed fifth with 13.02m, setting a new personal best, while Maldonado finished 10^th with a distance of 11.63m finishing outside of scoring position.
 
Roger Williams will return to competition on Friday, May 2 when the Hawks send members of the team to the New England Division III Championships.