Falcons Open 2023 Season At BSU Bears Invite

Shimiyimana qualifies for DIII NE's in the triple jump with mark of 13.34 meters

Bridgewater, Mass. – The Fitchburg State University men's indoor track & field team opened its 2023 campaign this afternoon, competing at the 2023 BSU Bears Invitational, hosted by Bridgewater State at Swenson Field.

The Basics

Meet: BSU Bears Invite
Location: Swenson Field
Scoring: No Team Scoring

How It Happenedf

Senior Eric Shimiyimana (Worcester, Mass.) led the way for the Falcons placing second in the triple jump with a DIII New England qualifying mark of 13.34 meters in addition to finishing sixth in the long jump with a post season mark of 5.90 meters.

Freshman Liam Bourassa (Shirley, Mass.) was also solid for the Green and Gold finishing third in the javelin with a DIII NE qualifying toss of 52.04 meters, while also placing fifth in the discus (38.58M) and tenth in the shotput (12.29M) to qualifying for MASCAC's in both events.

Freshman Michael Burns (Worcester, Mass.) placed fourth in the 10000 meter with a MASCAC qualifying time of 35:21.32, while junior Taban Manyok (Lynn, Mass.) added a post-season qualifying time on 4:10.04 with a fifth place effort in the 1500 meter.

In the 800 meter, freshman Brady Madigan (Ayer, Mass.) (2:17.87) and sophomore Aidan Cattelan (West Hartford, Conn.) (3:11.98) finished 14th and 18th, while in the 200 meter, newcomer Nicholas Polanco (Miami, Fla.) (26^th), sophomore Shaki Auston (Springfield, Mass.) (42^nd) and newcomer Robert Williams (52^nd) turned in times of 24.94. 26.34 and 32.19 seconds.

Senior Benjamin Sacramone (Hubbardston, Mass.) placed 13^th overall in the 110 meter hurdles with a MASCAC qualifying time of 19.85 seconds, while in the 100 meter, newcomer Paul Michaelidis (Acton, Mass.) (30^th) and Polanco (31^st) posted times of 12.44 seconds and 12.50 seconds.

The 4x100 meter relay team od Auston, senior Nathaniel Felix (Worcester, Mass.), Shimiyimana and junior Elijah Zaire-McKnight (Tracy, Calif.) turned in a 13^th place time of 48.41 seconds, while freshman Omar Elmi (Worcester, Mass.) finished 19^th in the 400 meter with a time of 58.76 seconds.

In the 400 meter hurdles, Auston placed tenth overall with a time of 1:08.85, while junior Elijah Stathis (Northampton, Mass.) posted a time of 18:52.33 with a 30^th place effort in the 5000 meter.

In the field, senior Gene Bouthiette (Enfield, Conn.) placed third in the pole vault with a post-season qualifying height of 3.65 meters, while Sacramone finished eighth in the high jump with a MASCAC qualifying mark of 1.75 meters.

In the shotput, newcomer Hayden Frew (Brockton, Mass.) finished 21^st with a MASCAC qualifying throw of 10.39M, while sophomore Cameron Monette (Winchendon, Mass.) added a post-season qualifying throw of 9.35 meter after placing 32^nd overall.

Monette added an 18^th placed effort in the hammer throw (27.75M) and 34^th in the discus (21.14M), while Frew= finished 23^rd in the hammer (26.23M) and 31^st in the discus (24.00M), while Auston (5.31M) and freshman Cole Donelan (Fitchburg, Mass.) (4.49M) finished 17^th and 26^th in the long jump.

Cattelan rounded out the top Falcon efforts on the day, placing 41^st in the 1500 meter with a time of 4:46,32.

• Taban Manyok 5^th place 1500M (4:10.03)
• Gene Bouthiette 3^rd place PV (3.65M)
• Eric Shimiyimana 2^nd place TJ (13.34M)
• Michael Burns 4^th place 10000M (35:21.92)
• Liam Bourassa 3^rd place javelin (52.04M)/5^th place discus (38.58M)

Up Next

Falcons return to action next weekend as they compete at the 2023 Snowflake Invitational, hosted by Tufts University.