BOSTON, Mass. – Junior Connor Hichens (Sharon/Sharon HS) and sophomores Nik Haas (Ramsey, N.J./Ramsey HS) and Cullen McHale (Burlington, Conn./Lewis S. Mills HS) were among the team's top performers as the Bentley University men's track and field team opened its indoor season Saturday with the UMass-Boston Invitational at the Reggie Lewis Center.

Hichens had the only victory for the Bentley men, taking the triple jump in 43 feet, 8.5 inches with a winning margin of 14 and a half inches. He improved on his own PR by three-quarters of an inch while remaining number six on the Falcons' all-time indoor list. Hichens was also fifth of 42 in the long jump, with his distance just a quarter-inch shy of 21 feet.

Haas broke nine minutes for the first time in the 3,000 meters while placing third in a field of 21. His time of 8:59.89 was a new personal best by nearly 13 seconds. The 3,000, which was won by former Falcon John Drago, also saw freshman Seamus Higgins (Randolph, N.J./Randolph HS) take sixth in 9:14.38.

McHale was second of 42 in the 5,000 meters, crossing the line 3.56 seconds after Brandeis junior Jarret Harrigan with a time of 15:25.73. Also in the 5K, Falcon junior David Cooper (Woburn/ Woburn HS) was ninth (5:58.40), freshman Ryan Cadorette (Saco, Maine/Thornton Academy) 11th (16:01.15), sophomore Rupak Mehta (Howell, N.J./Howell HS) 12th (16:06.67) and senior Mac Segura-Cook (Northwood, N.H./Coe Brown Northwood Acad.) 13th (16:11.32).

Three freshmen turned in strong performances in their first indoor meet as collegians. Nick Skarin (Sunapee, N.H./Sunapee HS) was fifth of 28 in the 800 (2:02.68), Graham Chapski (East Greenwich, R.I./East Greenwich HS) placed 12th of 46 in the mile (4:35.40) and Beau Kraft (Bayport, N.Y./Bayport-Blue Point HS) was 13th of 46 in the shot put (40'6.25").

Bentley's next meet is about seven weeks away, the Greater Boston Track Club Invitational at Harvard on Jan. 25.