BROCKTON, Mass. ---- The Massasoit men's track & field team will be sending five student-athletes to represent the Warriors at the 2017 NJCAA Track & Field National Championship held at Howard College in Columbia, Maryland, from May 11-13.
Head coach Matt Jordan will be making his third trip to the NJCAA Nationals, having now sent a total of 18 student-athletes to the main event since the 2015 season.
"I am really looking forward to my third trip to Nationals and to see how these guys stack up against the NJCAA's best," Jordan said. "Liam (Brennan) has been here before, so he knows what to expect and has been a leader all season long. But, this is a new experience for the other four. The real wild card for us will be the relay teams, so that will be interesting to watch. I expect us to compete at a high level and proudly represent Massasoit, just as we have done in years past."
Julian Polynice headlines the group of five, by qualifying and setting or tying school records in three separate events – 400-meter hurdles, high jump and long jump.
Polynice, of Brockton, tied the school record in the high jump, leaping 1.85 meters at Fitchburg State, marking the sixth highest distance in the event in the NJCAA Division III field, tying Mitch Vaughn's school-best jump set last season.
The freshman also set the school record in the 400-meter hurdles, posting a qualifying time at Fitchburg State of 59.47 seconds. Polynice's clocked time marked the 11th fastest amongst the 13 qualifiers in the event for Nationals.
Lastly, Polynice also qualified in another field event, catapulting himself 6.26 meters in the long jump at Bridgewater State during the 2017 season. His distance not only set another school record, but was the 16th furthest of 18 qualifiers.
Liam Brennan of Middleboro is the lone veteran making his second trip to Nationals, as the sophomore will get his second crack in the 110-meter high hurdles on the big stage. A season ago, Brennan set the school record in the event, clocking a time of 16.07 to place sixth overall at the NJCAA's.
Also competing in the 110m high hurdles is freshman Eddy Fong (Brockton). In his first collegiate meet at nearby Bridgewater State, the speedster from Brockton went 16.57 to qualify for Nationals in the event.
In addition, the Warriors will be competing in both the 4x100 meter and 4x400 meter relays. The 4x100 foursome will consist of Brennan, Fong, Kymric Coon (Milton) and Christian Hill (Stoughton). The 4x400 squad will be Brennan, Coon, Hill and Polynice.
Liam Brennan - 110 Hurdles, 4x100 Relay, 4x400 Relay
Eddy Fong - 110 Hurdles, 4x100 Relay
Kymric Coon - 4x100 Relay, 4x400 Relay
Julian Polynice - HJ, LJ, 400 Hurdles, 4x400 Relay
Christian Hill - 4x100 Relay, 4x400 Relay