BOSTON, MA (February 17, 2024) – Junior Cody Witthun headlines as the UMass Boston men's track and field team team took their talents to the Little East Conference Championships from Gorham, Maine on Saturday February 17.

In the short sprints, sophomore Derrick Touba and junior Omoshigo Asuen took to the 55m dash, as Touba recorded a 6.76 finish, barely missing out on the finals heat by .03 seconds. Asuen ran 6.96 in his preliminary race. Touba was also the sole representative for UMass Boston in the 200m dash, as he covered the distance in 24.20 seconds. 
 
The Beacons' 4x200 team took sixth of seven teams competing in the relay. Asuen opened for the Beacons, as he handed off to Wiltshire, then to Debarros, and then finally to Dos Santos the Anchor for the Beacons, who clocked a 1:40.52 finish in just their first 4x200 relay of the season, deeming it a late season record before the conclusion of the season.

Witthun had himself a day from Gorham, Maine as the junior crushed his previous season record by nearly a whole second, dropping from 126:00 at the Tufts Cupid Challenge, to 1:25.11 at the Little East Championships. Witthun split his first 200m in just over 26 seconds even, followed by a 28.54 second lap to put him at 54.54 with 200m to go. He cleared his final lap in 30.47 seconds to clear 600m in 1:25.11 secnds, good for a new season and personal record in the event. Witthun's effort was enough to earn him third place behind Eastern Connecticut (1:23.90), and Southern Maine (1:24.72).
Witthun earned six of the Beacons' seven points from the LEC Championships. Sophomore Isaiah Stressman also took to the 600m dash, as he covered the distance in 1:28.43, just two second off from qualifying for the DIII regional meet.

First-year Robert Cannon represented UMass Boston in the 5000m run, as he tracked down a time of 16:52.34. 

Through the field events, Stressman and first-year Prabhdeep Bassan donned the Beacons' jersey on the triple jump runway, with Stressman hopping, skipping, and leaping to a best jump of 12.27m (40' 3.25"), followed by Bassan who recorded a 10.52m (34' 6.25") best from the runway. 

Junior Olutemi Alofe was the sole representative for the Beacons' bomb squad on the men's side, as he registered a best throw of 10.51m (34' 5.75").

For the rest of the Beacons' men's track and field team, their season will continue outdoors with the turn of the season. For Witthun, and other select qualifiers, the Beacons will continue next at the NCAA DIII New England Regional Meet at the TRACK at New Balance in Boston, MA on Sunday February 25 at 2:00pm. For live results, stay tuned to our athletics webpage at UMass Boston - Official Athletics Website (beaconsathletics.com).