Fredonia senior distance runner Merlin Joseph Jr. (Binghamton) finished second in the 3,000 meters at Friday's season-opening indoor track and field meet, the Youngstown State University Icebreaker.
Joseph's time of 8:50.72 was a personal-record by 14 seconds. In a field of 21 runners, he finished only 1.3 seconds behind Duquense freshman Casey Conboy. The third-place finisher, Lorne Strausbaugh of Malone, was another 13 seconds back.
In the 5,000 meters, junior Ethan Francis (Dunkirk, N.Y.) finished 11th in a field of 23 runners with a time of 15:33.73. Also, Michael Salvati (Avon, N.Y.) -- one of nine Blue Devil freshmen competing in their first college meet -- was clocked in 23.23 seconds in the 200 meters, 18th out of 51 sprinters.
Other highlights:
Mitchel Paciga (Jeffersonville), a senior, cleared 4.02 meters (13 feet, 2 1/4 inches) in the pole vault, a new personal-best. He finished 11th, two spots behind senior teammate Trent Howard (Dewittville), who cleared 4.17 meters (13 feet, 8 1/4 inches).
In the shot put, sophomore Jordan Toland (Lockport) threw a personal-best 13.20 meters (43 feet, 3 3/4 inches). He was 15th overall, one spot behind senior Damone Brown (Haverstraw) and one ahead of freshman Jeremiah Chandler (Lockport).
