On the strength of three championship-winning performances, the William and Mary men's track and field team ended the first day of the Colonial Athletic Association Championships in second place with 62 points.  George Mason leads the field with 71 points, while UNCW is a distant third with 41.5 points.  Friday's action included the finals of six events, and preliminary heats of many more.

Javelin Throw
The day began early in the morning with the javelin throw, where senior Brandon Heroux (Westfield, N.J.) won his fourth-consecutive conference title with two conference-record throws.  His first attempt of the morning was 70.36 meters (230-10), some three feet past the record he established in winning the javelin last spring.  Heroux's second attempt was even better, 71.34m (234-1), and stood up through the final four rounds to win by an astonishing margin of 43 feet.  Heroux is the first man ever to win to CAA javelin title four years in a row, and joins former Tribe great Andy Smith '06 as the only four-time winners in the event overall (Smith won from 2002-04, and 2006).  His throw this morning was the fourth-longest in school history, and re-qualified the senior for both the IC4A Championships and the Canadian Olympic Trials.

5,000m Run
After two weather delays, the Tribe got back on track in the evening by sweeping the distance events once again.  In the 5,000m, Alex McGrath (Marlborough, N.H.) won his second CAA title (he won the 10,000m in 2011) with a four-second victory in 14:24.92.  His performance qualifies the senior for the IC4A Championships, where he is already qualified in the 10,000m as well.

Also running in the 5,000m, sophomore Josh Hardin (Sterling, Va.) claimed All-CAA accolades in third place with a time of 14:44.61, and freshman Will Bass (Nashville, N.C.) was sixth in 14:51.60.  Andrew Ryan (Gloucester, Mass.) added two points for the team with his seventh-place showing, 14:53.45.

10,000m Run
The Tribe was even more dominant in the 10,000m, placing all five of its runners in the top seven spots including a one-two finish.  Sophomore Joshua Mercado (Citrus Heights, Calif.) claimed his first conference crown in 30:50.25, just a step ahead of classmate Rad Gunzenhauser (Pittsburgh, Pa.) in second at 30:50.55.  Both men completed their first collegiate 10,000m races with an IC4A-qualifying time.  Tyler Jones (Chalfont, Pa.) crossed the line in 31:11.95 for fourth, and Alex McGrath doubled back to earn four more team points with his fifth-place 31:14.69.  Zach Gates (Fishers, Ind.) rounded out the W&M scoring in seventh place, crossing the line in 31:21.15.

Hammer Throw
The College also picked up a pair of points in the hammer throw, where freshman Brian Waterfield (Chesapeake, Va.) threw 44.91m (137-4) on his third attempt for seventh overall.

The conference championships continue Saturday at George Mason, with the finals at every distance up-to and including the 3,000m steeplechase, as well as the decathlon, high jump, triple jump, shot put, and discus.

2012 Colonial Athletic Association Championships
Men's Team Standings
1. George Mason 71
2. William and Mary 62
3. UNCW 41.5
4. Northeastern 36.5
5. VCU 13
6. Georgia State 4