KINGSTON, R.I. (February 8, 2025) – The Beacons' men's track and field team posted six top-ten finishes at the University of Rhode Island Coaches Invitational, including three new personal bests against teams across NCAA Division I, II, and III in an all-region meeting.

First-year Alex Martins (Malden, Mass.) represented UMass Boston in the 60m dash, posting a 7.70-second finish.

In the 200m dash, junior Derrick Touba (Yonkers, N.Y.) finished first for the Beacons in 23.56s, taking seventh overall, followed by first-year Daniel Thomas (Milton, Mass.) with a new personal-best 25.00s finish.

UMass Boston loaded up in the men's 400m dash with five Beacons taking to the blocks. Sophomore Justin Riley (Weymouth, Mass.) led the field for the Beacons with a new personal record, 52.79s, to take fourth overall in the event. Junior Melvin Wiltshire (Boston, Mass.) followed Riley in 54.65s, then first-year Elaijah Monterio (New Bedford, Mass.) in 54.73s, then junior Isaiah Stressman in 54.98s, and closed out by Thomas in 58.06s. Riley, Wiltshire, Monterio, and Stressman finished fourth, seventh, eighth, and ninth in the event, rounding out four of the six top-ten finishes at the URI Invitational for UMass Boston.

First-year Ryan Meacham (Trumbull, Conn.) represented the Beacs in the men's long and triple jump from the jumper's runway. He finished with a 5.50m best in the long jump and took seventh overall with a 12.24m (40 ft., 2 in.) best in the men's triple jump. Stressman followed Meacham with a season-opening 12.20m (40 ft., 0.5 in.) best in the triple jump.

From the thrower's circle, sophomore Neville Richards (Wellington, Fla.) led a group of four throwers across both shotput and weight throw. In the shotput, Richards heaved an 11.39m (37 ft., 4.5 in.)  best, followed by sophomore Dawin Preval (Huntington, N.Y.) with a new personal record of 10.93m (35 ft., 10.5 in.), improving on his previous record by nearly one foot. Senior Arthur Grant (Walpole, Mass.) and Olutemi Alofe followed suit, each with a 10.25m (33 ft., 7.5 in.) best.

Richards registered a 10.27m (33 ft., 8.5 in.) best in the men's weight throw.

The Beacons track and field team will compete for a final time at the Boston University Valentine Invitational on Friday, February 13, before looking to give it their all at the Little East Conference Championships in Providence, R.I., on February 22.