Merkman Sets School Record in Discus, Men Win Eight Events at Gravel Classic

WESTFIELD, Mass. – Senior athlete Xavier Merkman (Springfield, Mass.) unleashed a school-record 45.95m (150-09) toss at the discus throw to win the event as Westfield State men's track and field captured eight event victories at the 2026 Jerry Gravel Classic on Alumni Field and the Jerry Gravel Track from Westfield, Mass. on Saturday afternoon.

Merkman's record-setting toss in the discus came on his final attempt on the afternoon, vaulting him up to first place in the event while passing the previous record holder Peter King '04 who set the record 22 years ago at a mark of 150-0. He was serenaded with cheers and applause from teammates and spectators after the throw. That wasn't all for Merkman who also claimed the top spot in the hammer throw at a distance of 43.88m.

The Owls also earned six additional event victories, five individual and one team relay race. Johnny Ware (Wilmington, Mass.) wasted no time producing a strong result in the javelin, winning the event while generating his two furthest tosses in his first two attempts with his second mark of 57.67m topping his next closest competitor by 13 meters. Ware was also second in the 110m hurdles, crossing the line in 17.28 seconds.

Daniel Shea (Longmeadow, Mass.) was the top leaper in the long jump with his first official mark of 6.65m holding as the highest mark of the day.

Micah Scott (Uxbridge, Mass.) put forth a balanced and strong effort across three events, winning the shot put with a personal best toss of 13.07m. He was also third in the javelin (40.73m) and discus (39.45m).

Devan Cerone (Southwick, Mass.) won the high jump at 1.80m, breaking a tie with Western New England's Jordan Billings by clearing the bar on his first attempt compared to Billings' third and final effort.

Joining the five field athletes with a top spot was first-year distance runner Rodrigo Miranda (West Springfield, Mass.) who covered the 10000 in a time of 35:32.68.

The Owls had a multitude of second-place finishes on the day with Jordan Stallworth (Chicopee, Mass.) earning that spot in the 200 in 22.59 seconds and also added third in the 100 (11.50).

Rowan Gottshall (Simsbury, Conn.) nabbed a personal-record time in the 400 in 53.23 seconds for runner-up.

Drew Organ (Suffield, Conn.), Michael Pelletier (Wilbraham, Mass.), and Lorcan Bergeron (Medway, Mass.) all placed second in their respective events: Organ in the 3000 steeplechase (10:20.79), Pelletier in the triple jump (12.55m), and Bergeron in the 800 (2:03.89).

Other notable finishes came from Daniel Desulme (Roslindale, Mass.) in the hammer throw where he collected a personal best with a toss of 39.43m to place fourth in the event. Jace Falcone (Wilbraham, Mass.) added a top-five finish in the 200 with a time of 23.17 seconds.

The Owls also grabbed a relay victory in the 4x100 as Myles Craft (Oxford, Mass.), Jordan Stallworth, Marcus Stallworth (Springfield, Mass.), and Falcone completed the oval in 43.62 seconds, finishing two seconds ahead of Western New England as the second team to cross the tape.

Prior to the start of the meet, Westfield State athletics honored men's track and field's eight senior athletes: Myles Craft, Jace Falcone, Rowan Gottshall, Sean Jacobson, Colin Mahoney, Xavier Merkman, Michael Pelletier, and Johnny Ware.

Westfield State men's track and field will participate at the Trinity College Invitational on Saturday, April 18 before getting set to compete in the 2026 MASCAC Outdoor Championships on April 25.