BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – In the opening meet of the outdoor season, Bentley University sophomore Holt Sihvonen (Lebanon, Conn./Lyman Memorial HS) broke a 24-year-old record in the javelin and provisionally qualified for the NCAA Division II Championships in the process.

Competing in the Bridgewater State Bears Invitational, Sihvonen released a throw of 198 feet, six inches to better the mark set by Mark Bruneau back in 1992 by an inch shy of four feet. He bettered his own personal best by seven feet and finished second overall and first among collegians.

Also in the javelin, senior Joe Simonini (Revere/Revere HS) finished seven with a throw of 163'3".

Bentley dominated the 1500 meters with three runners finishing in the top six in a field of 61. Junior Tim Bolick (Hopkinton/Hopkinton HS) and senior David Cooper (Woburn/Woburn HS) were second and third, respectively, and both turned in new PRs. Bolick bettered his previous best by 6.27 seconds with a 4:08.02, and Cooper's 4:10.41 was a PR by 3.46 seconds. Senior Anthony Lacey (Ogdensburg, N.J./Pope John XXIII HS) took sixth in 4:12.88 and senior Adam Gidley (Salem, N.H./ Central Catholic HS) was 13th (4:18.72).

Sophomore Beau Kraft (Bayport, N.Y./Bayport-Bayshore HS) was second among 33 athletes in the discus, posting a throw of 126'2".

Junior Matt Powell (Charlton/St. John's HS) tied for seventh of 26 in the long jump (18'9"), and senior Wes Dupray (Rowley/St. John's Prep) was ninth of 23 in the hammer. His throw of 123'3" improved on his previous best by more than seven feet and elevated him to number three in program history.

In the 400 meters, freshman Anthony Giesing (Bradford, Vt./Oxbow HS) was 12th of 36 with a clocking of 54.33 seconds.

Next Saturday, Bentley will run in the Tufts Snowflake Classic.