UTICA, N.Y. - The 4x400 relay team ran in a victorious 3:30.93 and junior Neil Casimir won the 400 to help the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) men's track & field team to a second place finish in the seven-school, multi-divisional Utica Winter Classic hosted by Utica College. 

The Engineers compiled 147 points, but was edged by a point by Westfield State University's 148 points. The host Pioneers were third with 142 points and Hamilton College was fourth with 87 yards.

The foursome of Luke Lyons, Alex Ryan, Raymond Rivituso and Joey Hinckley defeated six other squads, including the runner-up, Utica, by almost four seconds (3:34.17). Lyons, Ryan and Hinckley are freshmen and Rivituso is a sophomore.

Lyons went on to finish second to Casimir in the 400 with a time of 51.15. Casimir ran a 50.47 to beat the 11-person field. He also had a second place finish in the 200.

Rensselaer had five others who finished in second place, including Bate Egbe in the 60 Hurdles and Jared Brawn in the heptathlon.

Hunter Borwick was runner-up in the pole vault, Ben Zawislak was second in the shot put and Mark Shapiro was second in the weight throw. 

RPI returns to Utica for its next meet, January 18 for the Utica Invitational.