CHESTER, Pa. – Widener men's track and field rally behind Samuel Knowles as a 24-year-old record falls at the 2023 Widener Invitational
 
Track
 
The 100-meter dash featured a handful of Pride men. Leading the charge was Dereck Darden who ran a 11.40 and earned a MAC standard. Luke Spera and Aidan Wilson followed with an 11.85 and 12.45 respectively.
 
Darden continued his competition with the 200-meter dash where he ran a new personal best with a 23.01 and a MAC standard.
 
Samuel Knowles made history in the 400-meter dash as he took down a 24-year-old record previously held by three former Pride teammates. Knowles' time of 47.07 took down a 47.60 held by Ray Crooms from 1999 and Mike Schmidt from 2005. Knowles currently ranks fourth in the nation and first in the MAC by nearly a second and a half. Brion McNear also competed and ran a personal best as he clocked a 49.86. Both earned MAC and AARTFC standards.
 
Josh Schreiner took the charge in the 800-meter where he ran a 2:00.96 to earn a MAC standard.
 
The 1500-meter run featured two personal bests from Thomas Plunkett and Michael Greene. Plunkett ran a 4:02.09 to rank 11^th in conference standings while Greene ran a 4:45.54.
 
Friday night's 5000-meter run showcased six Pride runners as Patrick Carolan led the pack with a 15:07.18. David Millar followed with a 15:13.36 while Joseph Cardie hit a 15:20.17. Joseph Nescio (15:42.08), Michael Carolan (15:58.15), and Gavin Kelly (16:14.18) ran personal bests in their races.
 
In the hurdles, Tristen Silverstein set new personal bests in the 110-meter and 400-meter hurdles. In the 110 he ran a 17.50 with a wind reading of -0.2. In the 400 he ran a 59.24 which earned a MAC standard.
 
Field
 
Alex Stempin took to the long jump to earn a MAC standard after his 5.94-meter throw. Later in the javelin, he set a new personal best as he threw a 48.32-meter mark.
 
Alden Littlefield came up 0.1 meters away from a Widener record in the shot put. Littlefield's throw of 16.38-meters fell inches shy of Mike Recla's 2005 record of 16.48-meter mark. Littlefield currently ranks first in conference standings which tied his preview throw of 16.38-meters at the WCU Golden Rams Invitational. David Waters threw a 13.43-meter mark to fall shy of his best from the Widener Invitational two weekends ago.
 
Jared Ware earned MAC and AARTFC standards in the discus as he threw a 47.45-meter throw.
 
In the hammer throw, Justin Adams, Conrad Howell, and Waters took to the circle for the Pride. Adams led the Pride with a 52.99-meter throw while Howell marked a 49.85-meter throw. Waters would see a new personal best with his throw of 46.75-meters. Following this weekend of competition, the Pride display half of the top 10 times in the conference.
 
UP NEXT
Widener faces a quick turnaround and will race on Monday at the Haverford Mid-Week Meet. Competition continues at the Penn Relays on Thursday and Friday and concludes at the Elizabethtown Blue Jay Tune-Up Meet on Saturday.