WENHAM, Mass. – Suffolk men's outdoor track & field recorded regional ranked performances at its 2021 season opener, the Gordon Invite, Saturday at the Brigham Athletic Complex.
The Rams were represented in eight different events, two of which they won.
Michael Balestra had the highlight performance in the hammer throw. Saturday was the first time the junior tossed the hammer since capturing All-New England honors in 2019. Balestra's throw of 50.34 not only was the top mark of the meet and in New England, but ranks 33 across NCAA Division III this season.
Michael Power competed in the hammer throw as well and produced a 33.61 throw, good for fourth. The junior also participated in discus (27.12 – sixth), along with Matthew Sambucetti (29.57 – fifth), as well as the shot put (10.21 – fifth).
Balestra's classmate and co-captain Matyas Csiki-Fejer notched a New England best as well, garnering his in the 1500. The St. Louis, Missouri product paced the nine-runner pack, which featured five Rams, and clocked in at 4:00.75, 18:42 ahead of second place finisher, Evan Page of Gordon. Suffolk captured five of the top six spots in the event with Kely Maloney (4:26.20), Jacob Dubin (4:30.57), Nic Malm (4:36.98) and Arthur Lacerda (5:38.07) taking third through sixth.
Hunter Toyoda and Conor Garrity took third and fourth, respectively, in the 5000. The former crossed the line in 16:40.22 and the later clocked in at 18:04.16.
Cole Bolduc ran the ninth-best 400 in New England. The sophomore ran around the track once in 51.69. Justin Turner, meanwhile did two laps around the track in 2:05.90 to finish second in the five-runner field. finish his one lap in 51.69, while Justin Turner
Suffolk rounded out the event with a second-place performance in the 4x400 relay with a combined time of 3:41.81.
The Rams will be back in action next weekend when it revisits Wenham, Massachusetts for the second Gordon Invite Saturday, April 17.
