By Jeff Powalisz

While Saturday’s Snowflake Classic only acted as a conditioning meet for the Northeastern men’s track team, thrower Derek Anderson continued to stay in top form.

The junior threw in three events, placing first in the discus (182-01), second in the shot put (53-10.50) and third in the hammer (172-11).

“The meet went pretty well, and was run a lot more efficiently than in the past,” Anderson said. “It was a pretty good day and I’m looking forward to some bigger meets where the competition will be even better.”

Anderson, who is currently ranked ninth in the nation in the discus, continues to set higher expectations for himself.

“I want to get into the top five (in the discus),” he said. “The Snowflake Classic was a small stepping stone for bigger meets.”

Peter Jasmin and Ryan Cahill had victories for the Huskies as well in the 110 hurdles and pole vault, respectively, as a successful afternoon in Needham built up another trip to south on Friday and Saturday for the South Florida Invitational in Tampa, Fla.

“We ran a big meet last week and we’re running another again this week,” said Northeastern coach Sherman Hart. “We just need to get acclimated to the outside. We’ve really only had two opportunities to get outside. Mother Nature is killing us, we’re getting beaten down with cold weather.”

Jasmin, at 15.11, sped ahead of his next two competitors, Patrick Mills of URI (2nd, 15.90) and Chad Natti of Bridgewater St. (3rd, 16.02).

Cahill continued his consistent work in the pole vault with a 15-05 leap. Chris Westfield of Greater Boston Track Club (15-05) came in next, but then two more Huskies proved the team’s depth in the event.

Mike Couch was third at 14-11 while Aaron Hill placed fourth (14-05.25).

“We need to keep it going and hopefully we’ll be even better with some decent weather,” Hart said. “Derek is having a great outdoor season. He finally has hit his stride, and I hope he keeps going at the same point that he is now.”

Obaro Emenike was the team’s key performer in the distance events, with a sixth-place finish in the 100 (11.32) and fifth in the 200 (22.77).

In the 800, Andrew Silvia was sixth at 2:00.34, and Tom Pratt continued a strong effort in the distance events by the team with a fifth-place finish in the 1500 (4:04.79).

Charles Cameron, a defensive back on the football team, was second in the 400-meter hurdles at 56.35, while Jasmin added support at fifth (56.97).

Jared Paul was fifth in the 3000 meter steeplechase (9:43.85).

In the field events, Akil Alexander and Matt Kowalski were ninth and 12th in the high jump, respectively, at 5-10 and 5-8.

Emenike returned for another great performance, finishing third in the long jump (21-09.50).

Javelin throwers Mike Randall (173-10) and Ricardo Parente (173-03) were seventh and ninth in the event.

For Hart and the Huskies, with the success of the winter and years past, the goals for the team continue to grow.

“Our goal on the men’s side is definitely to win the America East and recapture the crown,” he said. “We definitely want to win the New Englands as well. Both meets are at our house too, so we want to defend our own turf.”

With more underclassmen seeing competition and the roster expanding to include such performers as Cameron, Hart expects more from the team.

“We’re looking higher now,” he said. “We’ve gotten more experience and we’re ready to handle the pressure. Derek, Idris (Payne), Peter Jasmin are all important members, while Charles Cameron is a strong addition.”

The Huskies look to work off the talent that keeps improving with their second trip to Florida in two weeks on Friday.