Balestra, Baston Continue GNAC Weekly Award Haul

WINTRHOP, Mass. – Michael Balestra and Connor Baston of the Suffolk men's indoor track and field team continued their streak of conference weekly accolades as the pair three-peated in their respective categories. Balestra was named GNAC Field Athlete of the Week, while Baston took home GNAC Rookie of the Week status.  

Balestra has been the only student-athlete to garner field athlete status since the league has handed out the award Jan. 27. Baston, meanwhile, has tabbed the conference's best rookie over a seven day stretch four of the seven weeks the awards were handed out, and was tabbed the best track athlete once to have five weekly nods to his credit in his first collegiate campaign.  

Overall, Suffolk's men's team has 11 of the 18 weekly accolades this season. Baston has five, Balestra has three, with a pair for Matyas Csiki-Fejer (track) and one for Robert Solari (track). 

Balestra's third-such honor comes after the sophomore sunk the weight throw 14.49 meters at Plymouth State's Panther Invitational Saturday. That toss was the best of GNAC foes, as the field featured four of the Rams conference counterparts, Colby Sawyer, Emmanuel, Regis and Saint Joseph's (Maine).  

Baston, meanwhile, competed in the long jump for the first time in his career. He had he top GNAC performance, clearing 5.90 meters for eighth overall in the field of 22. That jump was the fourth-best mark in the league this season.  

Balestra and Baston gear up for this weekend which is highlighted by the inaugural GNAC Indoor Track & Field Championships Sunday, Feb. 16. Prior to that, a selection of Rams will compete at Boston University's David Henry Valentine Invite.