COLUMBIA, Ky. – The University of the Cumberlands men's track & field team totaled 98 points and crowned three conference champions on day one of the MSC Outdoor Championships.

Cumberlands opened the meet with a win in the 4x800-meter relay, as Tavon Davis, Hugo Massa, Ryan Ehrler, and Max Young combined to run 7:38.43. The mark hit the NAIA standard and earned First Team All-Conference honors.

The Patriots followed with a dominant showing in the 5000-meter race walk, placing four athletes inside the top four while all hitting the NAIA standard. Lucien Beardsley captured the conference title in 20:43.89 to earn First Team All-Conference honors. Tomas Mencel placed second in 21:25.12 for Second Team honors, while Cole Bennett finished third in 21:41.91 to earn Third Team All-Conference honors. Dillan Melchiore added a fourth-place finish in 22:34.91.

Field events produced major points, led by Seth Massie who cleared 4.60 meters to win the pole vault and earn First Team All-Conference honors. Mark Lawin followed with a third-place finish at 4.40 meters for Third Team honors, while Zach Lawson placed fourth (4.00m) and Tanner Tumey finished fifth (3.10m).

Massie added another All-Conference performance in the long jump, placing third with a mark of 6.79 meters to earn Third Team honors. Jelle Golbach followed in fifth at 6.44 meters, while Tanner Tumey (6.26m), Chase Pearson (6.18m), Tristen Knox (5.98m), and Nathan Goodin (5.74m) also competed.

The javelin added another podium finish as Tanner Tumey placed third with a throw of 45.05 meters to earn Third Team All-Conference honors. Seth Massie followed in fifth at 44.50 meters, while Jelle Golbach recorded 43.97 meters and Austin Meacham added 43.27 meters.

In the hammer throw, Austin Meacham placed fourth with a mark of 39.61 meters, while Byron Collier followed in fifth at 34.83 meters.

Preliminary action saw multiple Patriots advance to finals. Jordan Afolayan led the way in the 100 meters with a time of 10.66 to qualify for the finals, while Aarontae Wesley followed with 10.70.

The 200-meter prelims saw Wesley advance with a time of 21.76, while Willy Mabena qualified in 22.03. Noah Kincade (22.12) and Afolayan (22.16) also moved on to the finals.

After day one, Cumberlands leads the team standings with 98 points, followed by Lindsey Wilson with 63 and Campbellsville with 56. Georgetown (Ky.) sits fourth with 38 points, Bethel (Tenn.) is fifth with 18, Freed-Hardeman has 13, and Cumberland (Tenn.) rounds out the standings with eight points.

Cumberlands will return to action tomorrow as the Patriots look to build on a strong opening day at the MSC Outdoor Championships.