Men's Track & Field Earns NEC Honors for Outdoor Season

The Northeast Conference announced the all-conference selections and major award winners for the outdoor track and field season in a release on Tuesday afternoon. Head coach Eric Blake and his assistants were named the Coaching Staff of the Year after leading the Blue Devils to their third straight Northeast Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championship, while senior Matt Walker earned the Most Outstanding Track Performer (Distance) for at last month's championships held at CCSU. 

OFFICIAL NEC RELEASE

Blake and his staff earned the Coaching Staff of the Year honor for the third straight season after helping the Blue Devils claim another outdoor championship. CCSU hosted this season's conference championship meet for the first time and compiled an impressive 208 points to comfortably outpace second-place LIU Brooklyn (154 points).

Walker won both the 5000 meter (15:32.73) and 10000 meter runs (32:04.24) to earn All-NEC First Team honors and help the Blue Devils run away from the field on the men's side in the team standings. 

Joining Walker on the First Team was junior Joseph Gioielli, who won the 1500 meter run with a time of 3:51.30. Sophomore Austin Trainor won the Steeple Chase with a time of 9:36.90 and earned First Team honors, while junior Brendan Callahan was just behind him with a time of 9:48.62 to earn Second Team honors.

Sophomore Sam Borecki earned First Team honors in Pole Vault with a winning height of 4.80 meters. Borecki took the indoor title in the event as well.

The Blue Devils also earned First Team All-NEC honors for winning the 4x100 and 4x800 meter relays.

Gioielli (800m), junior Jeremy Willis (javelin) and sophomore Mike Lang (long jump) earned Second Team All-NEC honors. Freshman Tyrik Henry earned All-Rookie honors in the Long Jump and Triple Jump to lead a trio of rookie Blue Devils earning honors.

First Team
1500m - Joseph Gioielli, Jr. - 3:51.30
5000m - Matt Walker, Sr. - 15:32.73
10000m - Matt Walker, Sr. - 32:04.24
Steeple Chase - Austin Trainor, So. - 9:36.90
Pole Vault - Sam Borecki, So. - 4.80m
4x100 Relay - (Andrews, Walker, Fruster, Henry) - 42.12
4x800 Relay - (Connor, Trainor, Grudzwick, Gioielli) - 7:46.31 

Second Team
800m - Joseph Gioielli, Jr. - 1:55.17
Steeple Chase - Brendan Callahan, Jr. - 9:48.62
Long Jump - Mike Lang, So. - 6.72m
Javelin - Jeremy Willis, Jr. - 60.28m

All-Rookie
800m - Richard Grudzwick, Fr. - 1:56.64
5000m - Roberto Piotto, Fr. - 15:45.03
Long Jump - Tyrik Henry, Fr. - 5.88m
Triple Jump - Tyrik Henry, Fr. - 12.96m