After a record-breaking meet last week at the John Thomas Terrier Classic, the University of Rhode Island men’s track and field team returned to Boston for the IC4A Championship.
Rhode Island placed first out of 20 schools and scored 146 points for its third straight IC4A Championship win. Saint Joseph’s University finished second in the meet with a total of 78 points. Rhode Island dominated the weekend, with athletes contributing across multiple events.
“This meet is relatively similar in size and scope to what our conference championship is,” URI Track and Field Head Coach Trent Baltzell said. “It kind of happened as a result of building towards [the] A-10 [Championship].”
First-year sprinter Lucas Andrade finished first in the 60-meter hurdles in 7.94 seconds. First-year Miles Lipka won the heptathlon with 5,235 points. Fifth-year sprinter Steven Doss finished second in the 60-meter dash in 6.82 seconds and sixth in the 200-meter final in 21.54 seconds.
The distance medley relay team of first-years Cole Francis, Ryan Temistokle, and second-years Ben Faton and Jeremy Roe finished fourth out of 12 teams in 10:01.55.
“It’s a whole bunch of guys in that high school 2025 class that came in as freshmen that were really going to bring a lot of energy,” Baltzell said. “Of the 100+ years we’ve had a program here at URI’s men’s track and field, this may be the best freshman class that has ever come through, that and a senior class that is willing to do some teaching.”
It wasn’t just a good day for the runners; many field athletes held outstanding performances as well. Fifth-year jumper Matt Santy was named male performer of the meet after he won the high jump and delivered a program record-breaking 7.56-meter long jump.
“I always felt a lot of pride in the performance I was going to put out there,” Santy said.” I’ve been working towards it for quite a while now. I sat in the moment, and I enjoyed it, but there’s also a desire for more. As much as I enjoyed the moment, I’m ready to keep working towards something greater.”
Santy wasn’t the only one to shine in the sand, as fifth-year Joachim Ennoo earned second with a leap of 7.42 meters. Third-year jumper Nate Schultz earned fourth at 7.21 meters, and fifth-year Izzy Henriques-Setho placed fifth at 7.14 meters.
The top finishes continued throughout the weekend. Ennoo also won the triple jump, marking at 15.71 meters. First-year Carson Dean placed second in the pole vault at 4.80 meters, and third-year Theo Puterbaugh placed second in the shot put with a 16.69-meter throw.
“You want to be the best as an individual, but it really helps in practice when you have so many phenomenal athletes around to help you push harder and to want more,” Santy said. “It’s a great group of guys. We want to show not only the Northeast, but the whole NCAA that what we have at URI here is special.”
Though the Rams’ third trip to Boston in four weeks was a success, the team is only about two weeks away from the Atlantic 10 Championship, taking place on Feb. 27 and Feb. 28 at the Virginia Beach Sports Center.
Last year, the Rams won their fifth consecutive 2025 A-10 Indoor Championship with 178.5 points. In the championship, Santy was named the Most Outstanding Field Performer, and Baltzell was named Coach of the Year.
“Leading into the A-10s, it’s just continuing to work towards getting that one percent every day,” Santy said. “Trusting your body, trusting your coaches and trusting your teammates to get you to where you want to be.”
Next, the Rams continue their Boston circuit and return to action Friday at the David Hemery Valentine invitational, hosted at the Boston University Track and Tennis Center.
