NEW LONDON, Conn. -- The Connecticut College men's track & field team competed at the Coast Guard invitational on Saturday afternoon. The Camels placed eighth overall out of 11 scoring teams. 

Conn was led by a trio of winners. Chris Verstandig (Slingerlands, N.Y.) won the 800 in 1:56.38, more than a second ahead of Trinity's Larson Sippel. As a result of the performance, Verstandig qualified for the New England Division III Championships that will be held next month. Teammate Bennett MacDougall (Wellesley, Mass.) placed fifth in the event, earning four team points. 

Senior Jeffrey Love (Union, N.J.) also qualified for the regional championships in the 1,500. Love outpaced the competition by crossing the line in 3:59.65, just .03 seconds ahead of USMMA's Isaac Clark. 

Junior Chris Koskinen (Yarmouth, Maine) was victorious in the pole vault, clearing a height of 4.60 meters. The mark is tied for the 25th-best in all of Division III this season. Koskinen also participated in the 110-meter hurdles, placing second overall. Teammate Anders Larson (Concord, N.H.) also recorded team points, finishing fifth. 

Jayson Firmin (Dedham, Mass.) and Owen Phelan (North Andover, Mass.) picked up team points for the Camels in the triple jump and 400-meter hurdles respectively.

Connecticut College will next host the Silfen Invitational beginning on Friday, April 14.