WESTFIELD, MA (April 13, 2025) – The UMass Boston track and field teams turned in a strong all-around showing at Westfield State's Jerry Gravel Invitational, combining for 21 top-ten finishes and 14 podium performances. The meet featured a wave of personal bests, with the Beacons gaining momentum just two weeks out from the 2025 Little East Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

Women's Highlights

• In the 100m dash, senior Elizabeth Roy (Abington, Mass.) clocked a personal-best 13.57 to place third out of 13 competitors and four teams.

• Aryianna Garceau (Dalton, Mass.) continued her standout season with a sweep of the 200m and 100m hurdles. She won the 200m in a lifetime-best 24.72, ranking first in the LEC and second in NCAA Division III New England. In the 100m hurdles, she dominated with a 14.09 finish—more than two seconds ahead of the field—which currently ranks first in both the LEC and DIII New England, and fifth nationally.

• Roy and Garceau led a group of four Beacons in the 200m, with Roy placing sixth overall.

• Jacqueline Earner (Abington, Mass.) took third in the 1500m with a new PR of 5:07.10, dropping two seconds off her previous best.

• Shea Roche (Weymouth, Mass.) shaved over 25 seconds off her 5,000m PR, winning the event in 18:31.92. Her progression continues to shine under distance coach Lauren Bunke's guidance.

• In the discus, sophomore Katie Tuohy (Groton, Conn.) placed fourth out of 18 with a personal-best 28.09m—nearly five meters farther than her previous mark set earlier this season. First-year Isadora Teodoro Marques (Billerica, Mass.) placed eighth with a PR of 24.90m.

• Tuohy also placed sixth in the hammer (34.18m) and added a runner-up finish in the shot put with another personal best of 10.53m. Delaney Sartwell (Bridgewater, Mass.) followed in sixth at 9.60m.

• Mackenzie Jorgensen cleared 2.29m in the pole vault to earn second place.

Men's Highlights

• Derrick Touba (Yonkers, N.Y.) and Alex Martins (Malden, Mass.) both competed in the 100m dash. Touba finished second overall in 11.53, followed by Martins in eighth (12.01). Touba currently ranks eighth in the LEC.

• Justin Riley (Weymouth, Mass.) doubled in the hurdles, placing second in both the 110m hurdles (16.21) and the 400m hurdles, while clocking a new personal best of 57.36 in the long-distance hurdles.

• Touba and Melvin Wiltshire (Boston, Mass.) went 1–2 in the 200m. Touba crossed in 22.97, just .02 off his lifetime best, while Wiltshire posted a PR of 23.00. They now rank 11th and 14th in the LEC, respectively.

• Wiltshire also posted a career-best 52.74 in the 400m, placing sixth overall and moving into 16th in the LEC.

• Skye Roberts-Clarke (Boston, Mass.) ran a PR of 2:07.62 to take seventh in the 800m.

• Robert Cannon (Quincy, Mass.) dropped more than 15 seconds off his 5,000m time, finishing second overall in 16:50.75 for a new PB.

• In the field, Ramez Guirguis (Upton, Mass.) led the Beacons in the discus with a PR of 33.73m (9th place). Arthur Grant (Walpole, Mass.) set a new best in the hammer with a 30.94m toss (6th place).

• In the javelin, Brady Poirier (Acushnet, Mass.) came just shy of his PR, taking third with a 42.45m throw. Elmani Debarros (Boston, Mass.) followed in seventh at 32.75m.

• First-year Ryan Meacham (Trumbull, Conn.) placed seventh in the triple jump with a 12.03m leap.

Coach's Corner

Associate Distance Coach Lauren Bunke reflected on the women's recent success:

"I'm really proud of how this group has been showing up and competing these past couple of weeks. Jacqui and Shea's performances reflect the consistent work the whole group is putting in. Since stepping into this role, the focus has been simple—consistency, staying healthy, and having a strong team culture. They've been trusting the process, believing in each other, and their progress shows the power of that commitment."

Assistant Throws Coach Daniel Cope added:

"I think we're seeing both physical and technical growth. The throwers are hitting peak form, but more importantly, they're beginning to trust their technique under pressure. That consistency is what's driving these PRs."

Head Coach Ozzie Brown shared his outlook heading into his first LEC Outdoor Championship as a Beacon:

"The group has been coming together nicely. It's always a good day when nearly half of your athletes walk away with a personal or season best. The hard work is starting to show, confidence is growing, and as we begin our taper, we're going to be ready to show out at the LEC Championships."

What's Next

The Beacons will be split next weekend between two meets. A group will head to Willimantic, Conn. for the Bonnie Edmondson Classic at Eastern Connecticut State on Friday, April 18. Others will compete in the UConn Northeast Challenge in Storrs on Saturday, April 19—marking the final competition before the LEC Outdoor Championships on Saturday, April 26, hosted by UMass Dartmouth.

For schedules, results, and full recaps, stay tuned at UMass Boston Athletics.