WESTFIELD, MA (May 18, 2016) — The Vassar College men's track team broke three program records on Day 1 of the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Championship in Westfield, MA on Wednesday. 

Taylor Vann finished the 110-meter hurdles in 15.30 to set one of the three school records of the day.

"Tay stayed focused and executed well," coach James McCowan said.

Vann continued to roll and opened the men's 4x4 at 50.53. It was a tight race, as Kyle Estrada ran 49.72, Dylan Manning finished in 49.86, and Gabe Fishman took off hard to finish in 49.39 for a 3:19.86 school record.  

Philip Brown also inked his name into the record books, finishing the 10,000-meter race in 31:59.06 to secure third place and set a program record. 

"Philip had two goals for this race: compete well and get the school record," McCowan said. 

At the start of the race, three runners took off hard with Philip leading the way for the next five kilometers, going through in 16.01. After five kilometers, an Ithaca College runner took up the charge before a Rochester Institute of Technology runner took turns with Philip to consistently get to the front of the pack. After passing eight kilometers in 25:45, Philip and a Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute runner sat tied for third. 

Over the last 800 meters, the pace increased and finally dropped all the way to 63.50, as Philip nearly caught second place, while gapping the RPI runner to secure third. 

"It was a great race," McCowan said, "well competed and a new school record!"

Michael Scarlett, who ran the 5,000-meter race in 15:07 at Princeton University earlier in the season, looked to surpass that school record. 

"He had the main goal of competing well," McCowan said. "In the back of his mind, he looked to be the first Vassar runner to finish sub-15:00 for 5k." 

Scarlett started the race on a strong note, hanging on the back of a competitive field and rolling through the mile in 4:40 (14:30 pace). He held tough through two miles in 9:35, still ahead of the 15:00 pace before the early fast pace wore out his reserves. 

"He went for it early," McCowan said, "and for that, we are proud even though the race didn't finish as he had hoped."

The men's track team will compete in the 4x100 and the 1500m on Day 2 of the ECAC on Thursday in Westfield, MA.

—VASSAR—