Loretto, Pa. ? The Robert Morris University men's track and field team took this past weekend to get a final tune up in before the 2008 Northeast Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships as the Colonials competed at the second-annual Saint Francis (Pa.) Red Flash Invitational in Loretto, Pa.

Sophomore Anthony Trunzo (Trafford, Pa. / Penn Trafford) and senior Aaron Gurskey (Weirton, W.Va. / Weir) displayed strong outings in their respective field events. Trunzo tied Jacob Petras of California (Pa.) for first place in the men's pole vault with a mark of 4.45m while Gurskey nailed down third place in the men's hammer throw with a heave of 51.89m.

Senior Jamard Smith (Media, Pa. / Penncrest) and sophomore Donald Bettis (Brooklyn, N.Y. / Bishop Ford CCHS) anchored the track events. Smith marked a time of 52.31 in men's 400-meter dash en route to an eighth place finish. Bettis, on the other hand, claimed a time of 11.46 to earn himself ninth in the men's 100-meter dash.

The Colonials won't have to travel far this weekend with the 2008 NEC Outdoor Track and Field Championships at the RMU Island Sports Center. The event is scheduled to start on Saturday, May 3, and will conclude on Sunday, May 4.