MORGANTOWN, W. Va. – The Mercyhurst men's track and field team opened up their 2026 outdoor season, competing at the Marty Pushkin Invitational. Nine top-10 finishes, including two first-place finishes highlights the day for the Lakers.
 
In the high jump, freshman Jase Babcock placed first overall, with a distance of 2.00 meters.
 
Freshmen Devin Easter, Daniel Turner, Eric Grimm and Connor Stokes competed in the 4x100 relay. The group placed first overall, with a time of 41.87.
 
In the pole vault, freshman Zachary Noble placed second overall, with a jump of 4.40 meters.
 
Freshman Camden Pierce competed in the 1500 meters steeple, placing second overall with a time of 4:28.08.
 
In the triple jump, sophomore Fabian Berrios and freshman Antonio had top-10 finishes for the Lakers. Berrios placed ninth overall, with a jump of 11.80 meters. Fleck placed 10^th overall with a jump of 11.45 meters.
 
Freshmen Devin Easter and Eric Grimm, and junior Tyler Corbin competed in the 200 meters. Easter placed fifth overall, with a personal record time of 22.47. Grimm placed 15^th overall, with a time of 22.95. Corbin placed 40^th overall, with a time of 24.62.
 
Easter, Grimm and Corbin, alongside freshmen Connor Stokes and Daniel Turner competed in the 100 meters. Easter had another top-10 finish, placing seventh overall with a time of 11.17. Grimm placed 11^th overall, with a time of 11.24. Turner placed 22^nd overall, with a time of 11.77. Corbin placed 27^th overall, with a time of 12.15. Stokes placed 34^th overall, with a time of 13.83.
 
In the 1500 meters, freshman Thomas Gaydos, sophomore Max Dillaman and junior Daniel Derby competed for the Lakers. Gaydos had a top-10 finish, placing sixth overall with a time of 4:05.75. Derby had a time of 4:32.25, placing 38^th overall. Dillaman placed 46^th overall, with a time of 4:39.35.
 
In the shot put, freshmen Gannon McMaster and Dominic Croce competed for Mercyhurst. McMaster had a top-10 finish, placing seventh overall with a time of 12.21 meters. Croce placed 19^th overall, with a personal record time of 9.46 meters.
 
The pair continued competing for the Lakers, this time in the discus throw. McMaster had another top-10 finish, placing 8^th overall with a throw of 35.17 meters. Croce placed 21^st overall, with a throw of 21.75 meters.
 
Gaydos, Derby, Pierce and Dillaman competed in the 800 meters for Mercyhurst. Gaydos had a personal record time of 2:00.93, placing 21^st overall. Derby also had a personal record time, placing 25^th overall with a time of 2:02.42. Pierce placed 30^th overall, with a time of 2:05.52. Dillaman had a personal record time of 2:11.47, placing 45^th overall.
 
In the long jump, Grimm placed 16^th overall, with a jump of 5.85 meters. Freshman Antonio Fleck set a personal record, placing 18^th overall with a jump of 5.30 meters. Berrios had a jump of 4.72 meters, placing 24^th overall.
 
Corbin competed in the 400 meters for Mercyhurst. He placed 30^th overall, with a time personal record time of 54.09.
 
The Lakers continue their outdoor season when they go onto to compete at the two-day Carnegie Mellon Invitational in Pittsburgh, Pa. The invite starts Friday, March 27 and ends Saturday, March 28.