NIACC men send 8 events to nationals

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - The NIACC men's track and field team will compete in eight events at the NJCAA Division I national indoor meet on Friday and Saturday.

The two-day national championship event will be held at the Alachua County Sports and Events Center at Celebration Pointe.

The Trojans will compete in the distance medley relay, the 4x800-meter relay and the 4x400-meter relay.

Also, NIACC freshman Terrence Thomas will compete in the long jump and the triple jump, sophomore Bryson Canton will compete in the 1,000-meter run, sophomore Hugo Massa qualified in the 600 and freshmen Tyreese James and Quinton Ellis will compete in the 400.

In the distance medley relay, the Trojans will run Canton, Ellis, Massa and Owen Almelien. The Trojans' fastest time in the DMR this season was 10:21.48 at the SDSU Indoor Classic on Feb. 9.

In the 4x800, the Trojans will run Canton, Ellis, Massa and Joey Ringo. The Trojans' best time in the 4x800 was 8:35.75 at the NJCAA Region 11 Championships on Feb. 17

In the 4x400, the Trojans will run Demario Cleare, James, Ellis and Massa. The Trojans' fastest 4x400 time this season was 3:24.63 at the regional championships on Feb. 17.

Thomas' best jump in the long jump was a school record 7.39 meters (24 feet, 3 inches) at the University of Northern Iowa's Jack Jennett Invitational on Jan. 19. Thomas' best leap in the triple jump was a school record 14.31 meters (46-11 1/2) at the regional championships on Feb. 17.

Canton's season best time in the 1,000 was 2:33.81 at the regional meet on Feb. 17. Canton clocked a 2:32.97 at last season's national indoor meet, which ranks second on the school's all-time 1K list.

Massa set a school record of 1:20.64 in the 600 at the SDSU Indoor Classic on Feb. 10.

Ellis ran a personal-best 50.39 in the 400 at the regional meet, which ranks fourth on the school's all-time indoor 400 list. James ran a personal best 50.40 at the SDSU Indoor Classic, which ranks fifth on the school's all-time indoor 400 list.

TROJANS AT NATIONALS SCHEDULE

Friday (Times are EDT)

1:50 p.m. - Distance medley relay

3:30 p.m. - Long jump (Terrence Thomas)

4:35 p.m. - 600 prelims (Hugo Massa)

5:40 p.m. - 400 prelims (Quinton Ellis, Tyreese James)

Saturday

11 a.m. - Triple jump (Thomas)

12:45 p.m. - 4x800

1:55 p.m. - 600 finals

2:45 p.m. - 400 finals

3:45 p.m. - 1,000 (Bryson Canton)

4:10 p.m. - 4x400 

2024 NIACC men's track and field indoor bests (Through Feb. 17, 2024)