Chester, PA (May 8, 2010) – The DeSales University men's track and field posted it's best-ever finish at the MAC Outdoor Championships with a second place showing behind first place Widener University this weekend at Widener University.

The Bulldogs held a two-day lead but couldn't hold off the Pride on day three, falling by 21 points, and into second place. Freshman Jose Santiago was recognized individually winning Rookie of the Year honors for the men.

Over the weekend, DSU had several strong performances, helping it to total 169 team points. Among those performances was an eighth place finish by freshman Pat Jacoby (Allentown, PA/Salisbury) in the 400-meter dash (52.09). In the 800-meters sophomore Brent Clauser (Pottsville, PA/Pottsville) was fifth (1:58.78) and junior Paul Ecker (Lewes, DE/Cape Henlopen) was seventh (2:00.29).

Ecker also placed in the 1,500-meters (4:03.44) taking fifth place and junior Mike Curry (Kennett Square, PA/Salesianum) was first in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (9:35.49) and second in the 5,000-meters (15:37.76). In the 10,000-meter run junior Jack Tarpey (Freehold, NJ/Freehold Township) was sixth (33:16.09) and seniors Andrew Ferretti (Collegeville, PA/Wilson) and Justin Cuga (Newark, DE/Salesianum) were fourth and sixth in the steeplechase behind Curry.

In the 110-meter hurdles freshman Neal Fox (Adamstown, PA/Lancaster Catholic) took home MAC gold with a time of 15.69 seconds and senior Justin Del Piano (Monmouth Junction, NJ/South Brunswick) was fourth in a time of 16.13 seconds. Junior Pete Moreni (Philadelphia, PA/Archbishop Ryan) was first in the 400-meter hurdles (54.72) and freshman Ben Badilla (Bensalem, PA/Archbishop Ryan) was fourth (57.30).

Rounding out the running events were the 4x400-meter and 4x800 meter relay teams both taking second place. Members of the 4x400 team were Badilla, Ecker, Clauser, and Moreni and members of the 4x800 included juniors Patrick Filanowski (Cumbola, PA/Marian Catholic) and Brian Filanowski (Cumbola, PA/Marian Catholic), along with Clauser and senior Pat Hess (Harrisburg, PA/Bishop McDevitt).

In the field events sophomore Andrew MacNiven (East Hampton, NY/East Hampton) was sixth in the high jump and sophomore Derek Long (Wernersville, PA/Conrad Weiser) was eighth (1.83m). Del Piano was fourth in the pole vault (3.96m), freshman Brandon Esterly (Reading, PA/Muhlenberg) was seventh in the long jump (6.32m) and seventh in the triple jump (12.66m), and MacNive joined Esterly in the triple jump in fourth place (13.19m).

Once again DSU dominated the throwing events as senior Steve Modrow (Forty Fort, PA/Wyoming Valley West) was second in the shot put (14.52m) and fourth in the discus (43.14m). Santiago earned ROY honors by taking second in the discus (43.90m) and first in the hammer throw (53.56m). Freshman Jon Langton (Middlesex, NJ/St. Joseph) was seventh in the shot put (13.14m), junior Ken Devens (Vernon, NJ/Vernon Township) was eighth in the shot put (13.10m) and third in the hammer throw (50.82m), and sophomore Hank Miller (Hamburg, PA/Hamburg) was sixth in the discus (40.56m) and fifth in the hammer throw (48.53m).

Del Piano rounded out the top finishers taking first in the decathlon (5,864 points) and freshman Tyler Parisi (Mohnton, PA/Holy Name) was fourth with 4,587 points.