Bates junior Rich McNeil (Lawrence, Mass.) won three throwing events last weekend at the Colby Invitational, helping the Bobcats claim first place out of four teams, including their first regular-season win over MIT in 14 years.

McNeil, a five-time All-NESCAC performer, one-time All-American and the 2007 NESCAC Most Outstanding Rookie Performer placed first in the hammer throw, the discus throw and the shot put (45-04.25). His tosses in the discus (145-02) and the hammer (174-10) were both season bests.

McNeil was named the NESCAC Field Performer of the Week, the New England Small College Athletic Conference announced on Monday.

Bobcat fans have come to expect great things from two-time All-American thrower Vantiel Elizabeth Duncan (Topsham, Maine), but her performance at Saturday’s Snowflake Classic at Tufts still stands out.

In the first outdoor meet of the year, Duncan threw the hammer in competition for the first time since last May, and took first place among collegiate competitors at the meet with a personal-best mark of 173-08, meeting the automatic qualifying mark for the NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships.

Duncan was also fourth in the discus throw (112-04) and third in the shot put (39-07.75), and was a big factor in the Bobcats placing third out of 16 teams at the meet. Her performance led to her being named NESCAC Women’s Field Performer of the Week.