AMHERST, MA (March 28, 2026) – The UMass Boston track and field program opened its outdoor season at the UMass Flagship Opener in Amherst, competing against a strong field that included Division I programs and nationally recognized New England programs. The Beacons left with two event victories and a handful of podium finishes to kick off the spring campaign in style.
UMass Boston's outdoor season began with a statement from two of its standout performers. Aryianna Garceau (Dalton, Mass.), fresh off a national record and national championship in the 60m Hurdles, wasted no time translating that form to the outdoor track, winning the women's 400 meter hurdles in 1:02.94 and crossing the line more than two seconds clear of the field. Freshman Liam Feliz Montilla (Boston, Mass.) matched that energy in the field, clearing 1.92m to win the men's high jump and top a competitive field that included UMass Amherst's Aidan Lee (1.87m).
The Beacons' relay squads added to the opening-day haul with a pair of runner-up finishes. The men's 4x400 relay posted 3:43.79 for second place, while the women's 4x400 relay clocked 4:34.78 to finish second as well — both squads trailing only NCAA Division I UMass Amherst.
Omar Mishal (Peabody, Mass.) delivered one of the day's closest individual results, finishing second in the men's 400 meter hurdles at 55.99 — just nine-hundredths of a second off the win. Mishal's season-opening run in the 400m hurdles sets a new UMass Boston school-record in the event, breaking his teammate's record set just last May in 2025.
Justin Riley (Weymouth, Mass.) added a third-place finish in the same event at 58.00, giving UMass Boston two podium spots in the race.
Jailen Butler (Boston, Mass.) also reached the podium, finishing third in the men's triple jump at 11.50m.
Mariah Romaine (Plymouth, Mass.) (fifth, 30.08m) led the Beacons in the women's javelin, while Emmanuel Guzman (Boston, Mass.) (sixth, 47.50m) paced the men's side in the same event. Feliz doubled in the men's long jump, finishing seventh at 6.02m in a field where the top four were separated by just two centimeters. Jacqueline Earner (Abington, Mass.) finished fourth in the women's 800 meters at 2:29.31, and Melvin Wiltshire (Boston, Mass.) placed seventh in the men's 200 meter dash at 23.65.
Additional Beacons competed across the throwing events, sprints, and distance races, rounding out a full team effort on opening day.
Highlights:
- Garceau picked up right where her national championship indoor season left off, winning the women's 400 meter hurdles (1:02.94) in her outdoor season debut.
- Feliz won the men's high jump (1.92m) and also competed in the long jump — a strong multi-event opener for the freshman.
- Mishal and Riley went second and third in the men's 400 meter hurdles, giving UMass Boston a two-man podium in the event.
- Both relay teams finished as runners-up behind UMass Amherst, with the men posting 3:43.79 and the women 4:34.78.
- Butler's third-place triple jump finish (11.50m) rounded out a productive podium day for the Beacons in their outdoor opener.
UP NEXT
UMass Boston track and field continues its outdoor season next week, with the team traveling to Springfield College for the Springfield College Classic on Saturday, April 4, while Garceau ships south to represent UMass Boston, the Little East Conference, and NCAA Division III at the Texas Relays from April 2-4.
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