MIDDLEBURY, Vt. -- The Bates men's track and field team edged conference rival Amherst by half a point to secure fifth place out of 25 schools Saturday at the New England Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships. 

It's the program's best showing at indoor New Englands since Bates also finished fifth in 2016. The Bobcats finished with 51.50 points and Amherst came in sixth with 51 points on the nose. The Bobcats finished only three points out of fourth place. 

The Bates throwers had a big meet, with senior John Everett (Winchester, Mass.) setting a new personal record in the weight throw with a top heave of 56-07.50, good for second place in the event. But Everett wasn't the only weight thrower scoring points for the Bobcats. Junior Liam Byrne (Ridgefield, Conn.) placed fourth with a top throw of 53-08.25 and sophomore Jacob Goff (Scarborough, Maine) took fifth with a career-best toss of 52-11.5.

Goff's shot put throw of 49-08.25 was good for second in New England and Byrne took fourth with a top toss of 48-10.75.

A pair of Bobcats scored points in the heptathlon. Senior captain Liam Evans (Sauquoit, N.Y.) set a new personal record with 4,517 points, good for fourth place. Evans had the best pole vault among all the heptathletes, clearing the bar at 13-7.25. Junior Evan Koch (Brattleboro, Vt.) took seventh place with 4,106 points. 

Perhaps the most impressive performance of the day for Bates came in the 3,000 meters, where sophomore Ned Farrington (Cohasset, Mass.) ran the third fastest 3K in program history, finishing in 8:25.59. His previous career best was 8:36.99. Farrington's performance Saturday was good for fourth place in the meet. 

After helping the distance medley relay team to a fourth-place showing on Friday, senior John Mieszczanski (Chelmsford, Mass.) ran the mile in 4:19.90, good for seventh place. Meanwhile, fellow DMR team member first-year Aidan Rooney (Bay Shore, N.Y.) took eighth in the 1,000 meters with a time of 2:34.65.

The 4x400 relay team of sophomore Walter Joachim-Delpoio (Barrington, R.I.), first-year Truman Williams (Montclair, N.J.), senior Garrett Evans (Sauquoit, N.Y.), and junior Owen Glover (Andover, Mass.) took eighth place with a time of 3:29.79, earning an important point for the Bobcats.

Bates men's track and field athletes will get one more opportunity to qualify for the NCAA Indoor Championships at the Tufts Last Chance Meet, coming up next Saturday.