BROCKTON, Mass. ---- The Massasoit men's track & field team will send four student-athletes to compete in the 2018 NJCAA Division III National Championship, hosted by Mohawk Valley CC in Utica, NY from May 10-12.
It marks the fifth consecutive season the Warriors will have at least one representative at Nationals, as Massasoit has sent 23 individuals since adding track & field as a sport in the spring of 2014.
Head coach Matt Jordan, in his fourth season guiding the track program in Brockton, sends sophomore Kevin Baldwin and freshmen Hansen Bastia (Brockton), Brandon Calley (Bridgewater) and Lorenzo Espinoza (Stoughton) to Nationals.
"I'm excited to be representing Massasoit in my fourth National Championship," Jordan said. "We battled the unpleasant weather early in the season but we are excited for warmer weather in New York this weekend."
Baldwin will be making his second career appearance at Nationals, having competed in 2016 when it was hosted at Westfield State. In 2018, the sophomore qualified in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, clocking a school record time of 10:40.82 in the event at the Sean Collier Invitational, hosted by MIT on April 21st. His qualifying time was over 30 seconds faster than his previous best performance.
In addition, Baldwin was named a USTFCCCA All-American in both the 10,000m and steeplechase at the 2016 Nationals, placing seventh and eighth in the events, respectively, giving the sophomore some experience heading to Utica.
The duo of Bastia and Espinoza will test out their leaping abilities in the triple jump. Bastia's best distance, also came at the Sean Collier Invitational, carrying 12.76 meters, which set a school record.
Espinoza jumped right with Bastia, as his best distance in the event went 12.12 meters, to finish sixth at the Sean Collier Invitational.
Rounding the foursome heading to Nationals is Calley, who will compete in the 400-meter hurdles. His top time came in the team's final meet of the 2018 regular season, clocking a 1:01.82 in the event at Yale.
"Kevin Baldwin is returning to Nationals in the steeplechase off an outstanding race at MIT, where he smashed his own record by 30 seconds and has an outside shot at placing in the top five," Jordan said. "We have two guys in Hansen and Lorenzo that have the ability to place in the top-eight in the triple jump and Brandon is in contention for a top-10 finish in the 400 hurdles. I know the guys are excited to compete against the best in the NJCAA has to offer. It should be a fun trip."
Massasoit's Schedule at Nationals
Thursday, May 10th
Triple Jump – 2 PM
3,000m Steeplechase – 5:15 PM
Friday, May 11th
400m Hurdles – 6:15 PM (Semifinals)
Saturday, May 12th
400m Hurdles (Finals)
