Falcons Excel At Westfield Invitational

Manyok, Shimiyimana and Bourassa lead the way for Green and Gold

Northampton, Mass. – The Fitchburg State University men's indoor track & field team returned to action this afternoon, placing first overall with a total of 153 points at the 2023 Westfield Invitational, hosted by Smith College.

The Basics

Meet: Westfield Invite
Location: Smith College Track & Tennis Complex
Scoring: First Place, 153 Points

How It Happened

Senior Eric Shimiyimana (Worcester, Mass.) led the way for the Falcons, taking top honors in the triple jump with a DIII NE qualifying mark of 13.43 meters, while adding second place effort in the long jump with a MASCAC qualifying mark of 6.53 meters.

Junior Taban Manyok (Lynn, Mass.) was also solid for the Green and Gold, placing first in the mile (4:30.76) and first overall in the 3000 meter (9:08.23) to qualify for MASCAC's in both events, while newcomer Liam Bourassa (Shirley, Mass.) notched a first place finish in the shotput (13.02M), in addition to finishing second in the weight throw (12.72M), second in the high jump (1.90M) and fourth in the 60 meter dash (7.51).

In the 600 meter, sophomore Cristian Bueno Campos (Lawrence, Mass.) (2^nd), classmate Aidan Cattelan (West Hartford, Conn.) (5^th) and freshman Omar Elmi (Worcester, Mass.) (6^th) posted post-season qualifying times of 1:27.25, 1:33.45 and 1:37.70, while Cattelan added a MASCAC qualifying time of 4:30.76 with a co-first place finish in the mile.

In the 800 meter, senior Tyssen LaBombard (Shelburne, Mass.) (7^th), newcomer Brady Madigan (Ayer, Mass.) (8^th) and sophomore Angelo Pinto (Chaplin, Conn.) (10^th) posted times of 2:14.39, 2:25.53 and 2:27.53, while freshman Nicholas Polanco (Miami, Fla.) (56.73) and classmate Paul Michaelidis (Acton, Mass.) (58.45) finished fifth and seventh in the 400 meter.

Junior Elijah Zaire-McKnight (Tracy, Calif.) (24.94), Polanco (26.25) and Michaelidis (26.23) finished sixth, 12^th and 14^th in the 200 meter, while McKnight added a third place effort in the 60 meter dash with a MASCAC qualifying time of 7.51 seconds.

In the 60 meter hurdles, junior Shaki Auston (Springfield, Mass.) (9.07) and senior Benjamin Sacramone (Hubbardston, Mass.) (9.07) placed first and second respectively to qualify for MASCAC's, while in the 1000 meter, Bueno Campos (3:26.00) and Pinto (3:27.17) finished fifth and sixth.

In the field, Auston (6.36M) and freshman Cole Donelan (Fitchburg, Mass.) (4.24M) placed third and sixth in long jump, while Sacramone notched a third place effort in the high jump to qualify for MASCAC's.

In the shot put, sophomore Cameron Monette (Winchendon, Mass.) (3^rd) and newcomer Hayden Frew (Brocton, Mass.) (4^th) notched MASCAC qualifying throws of 11.16M and 11.12M, while in the weight throw, Monette (12.56M) and Frew (8.88M) finished fourth and eighth.

The distance medley relay team of Cattelan, Bueno Campos, Manyok and senior Nathaniel Felix (Worcester, Mass.) placed first overall with a time of 12:33.84, while the 4x400 meter relay team of Auston, Elmi, junior Zion Barber-Amado (Brockton, Mass.) and junior Andrew Bedard (Rutland, Mass.) finished second overall with a time of 4:05.18 to round out the top Falcon efforts on the day.

• Taban Manyok 1^st place 3000M (9:08.23), 1^st place Mile (4:30.76)
• Eric Shimiyimana 1^st place TJ (13.43M), 2^nd place LJ (6.53M)
• Liam Bourassa 4^th place 60M (7.51), 1^st place SP (13.02M), 2^nd place WT (12.72M)
• Cameron Monette 3^rd place SP (11.16M), 4^th place WT (12.51M)
• Cristian Bueno Campos 2^nd place 600M (1:27.25), 5^th place 1000M (3:26.00)
• Aidan Cattelan 5^th place 600M (1:33.45), 1^st place Mile (4:30.76)
• 4x400 Relay 2^nd place (4:05.18))
• Shaki Auston 1^st place 60H (9.07), 3^rd place LJ (6.36M)
• Elijah Zaire-McKnight 3rd place 60M (7.46)
• Benjamin Sacramone 2^nd place 60H (9.60), 3^rd place HJ (1.70M)
• Hayden Frew 4^th place SP (11.12M)
• Nicholas Polanco 5^th place 400M (56.73)
• DMR 1^st place (12:33.84)

Up Next7

Falcons return to action next Saturday as they compete at the 2023 Lynn Ruddy Invitational, hosted by Bowdoin College.