SAN MARCOS, Calif. – Victories by freshman Casey Cruz and senior Patrick Holstrom guided the Cal State San Marcos men's track & field squad to a second-place finish at home in the Mangrum Invitational at Mangrum Track & Field on Saturday afternoon.

The Cougars scored 24 points to finish second behind California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) rival UC San Diego.

Cruz ran a personal best 1:56.85 in the 800m, outsprinting fellow freshman Shea Vavra (1:58.87) to take the top spot and give the Cougars a 1-2 result in the race.

"The freshmen really stepped up. Overall it was a great day and you could see how we've improved with the freshmen that came in," said CSUSM head coach Steve Scott.

Holstrom picked up the win in the javelin with a throw of 53.97m, besting runner-up Cole Mears of UC San Diego by 3.06m. Freshman Tim Stalboerger placed third with a mark of 45.90m and senior Josh Maffei took fourth with a toss of 45.21m.

Sophomore Steven Terris ran a strong 3000m, logging a personal best time of 8:37.92 to finish second overall. Senior Ryan Maize returned from a one-year hiatus to finish ninth with a personal best of his own at 8:47.66.

Sophomore Bryce Johnson picked up his first of two personal bests in the 110m hurdles, finishing second with a mark of 15.08. Johnson also ran his best time in the 100m with a mark of 11.37.

Senior Aaron Hickman picked up a fourth-place result in the 400m (52.53) and senior Justin Washington set a personal best in the 1500m with a time of 4:09.78.

In addition to his fourth-place finish in the javelin, Maffei picked up top five results in the discus, placing fourth with a throw of 42.07m, and the hammer throw, taking fifth with a personal best mark of 39.43m.

The Cougars are back in action at the Cal State L.A. Invitational on Friday, March 3.

Men's Team Results
1. UC San Diego – 101.5
2. CSUSM – 24
3. Cuyamaca – 15
4. San Diego Mesa – 13.5
5. Cal Baptist – 5
 
Men's Individual Results
100m
1. Paul Doan (UC San Diego) – 10.75
7. Tyler Luis (CSUSM) – 11.26
9. Nathan Hale, Jr. (CSUSM) – 11.28
12. Bryce Johnson (CSUSM) – 11.37 (PR)
 
200m
1. Adam Winding (UC San Diego) – 22.27
5. Nathan Hale, Jr. (CSUSM) – 22.70
 
400m
1. Jared Senese (UC San Diego) – 49.70
4. Aaron Hickman (CSUSM) – 52.53
 
800m
1. Casey Cruz (CSUSM) – 1:56.58 (PR)
2. Shea Vavra (CSUSM) – 1:58.87 (PR)
 
1500m
1. Bryan Alvarado (Cuyamaca) – 4:01.26
5. Justin Washington (CSUSM) – 4:09.78 (PR)
8. Kevin Lehr (CSUSM) – 4:13.40 (PR)
10. Mark Werley (CSUSM) – 4:19.37 (PR)
14. Eric Constante (CSUSM) – 4:25.65
 
3000m
1. William Ernst (Cal Baptist) – 8:31.82
2. Steven Terris (CSUSM) – 8:37.92 (PR)
9. Ryan Maize (CSUSM) – 8:47.66 (PR)
11. Joe Gonzalez (CSUSM) – 8:49.71 (PR)
13. Joshua Litwiller (CSUSM) – 8:51.49 (PR)
26. Jhair Torres (CSUSM) – 9:25.07 (PR)
27. A.J. Freund (CSUSM) – 9:25.62 (PR)
31. Phillip Dorado (CSUSM) – 9:43.59 (PR)
 
110H
1. Nicholas Rack (UC San Diego) – 14.82
2. Bryce Johnson (CSUSM) – 15.08 (PR)
 
4x400m Relay
1. UC San Diego "A" – 3:23.16
2. CSUSM (Caine Harder, Justin Washington, Aaron Hickman, Casey Cruz) – 3:27.88
 
Long Jump
1. Randy Copeman (UC San Diego) – 6.61m
10. Tim Stalboerger (CSUSM) – 5.71m (PR)
 
Triple Jump
1. Khalil Flemister (UC San Diego) – 14.06m
4. Nick Samuels (CSUSM) – 13.24m (PR)
7. Antonio Riggins (CSUSM) – 13.09m (PR)
 
Discus
1. Chris Vanliew (UC San Diego) – 44.34m
4. Josh Maffei (CSUSM) – 42.07m
 
Hammer Throw
1. Mason Falahat (UC San Diego) – 50.33m
5. Josh Maffei (CSUSM) – 39.43m (PR)
 
Shot Put
1. Devin Lecakes-Jones (UC San Diego) – 14.95m
9. Josh Maffei (CSUSM) – 11.97m
 
Javelin
1. Patrick Holstrom (CSUSM) – 53.97m
3. Tim Stalboerger (CSUSM) – 45.90 (PR)
4. Josh Maffei (CSUSM) – 45.21