HADLEY, Mass. -- Sophomore
Liam Byrne and seniors
John Rex,
Ryan Nealis and
Zach Smith from the Bates men's track and field team won a total of eight All-NESCAC honors on Monday, as the New England Small College Athletic Conference announced its all-league teams in the sport.
In lieu of no NESCAC Championship meet being held this spring, the 2021 All-NESCAC performers were determined based on cumulative results from meets held through May 9. The individuals with the top three marks in each event listed on the NESCAC Outdoor Track & Field Performance List provided by TFRRS.org were deemed all-conference performers.
Rex (Andover, Mass.) hauled in three All-NESCAC honors, doubling his career total to six. He won his first NESCAC title in the hammer throw -- his top effort of 191'6" in a tri-meet at Bates on May 1 was his career-best mark, and has him ranked seventh in all of Division III, as well as 9.96 meters beyond second place in the NESCAC, Scott Fineberg.Â
The soon-to-be four-time NCAA Championship qualifier also won his second career All-NESCAC honor in the shot put, where he ranked second in the league at 47'3", and a third honor in the discus throw, where he ranked third at 140'11".
Byrne (Ridgefield, Conn.) claimed three All-NESCAC honors in the first year he was eligible to do so, with no such awards given out in 2020. Byrne recorded the highest mark in the NESCAC this season in the javelin throw, outdistancing teammate Smith as league champion in the event with a top effort of 165'8" at the Tufts Invitational on May 8. The sophomore won a second All-NESCAC honor in the discus throw, where he ranks second in the conference at 144'5", and a third in the hammer throw, where he ranks third in the league with a top mark of 156'1".
Smith (Waterville, Maine) won his third career All-NESCAC honor in the javelin throw, having placed third as a first-year and winning the conference title as a sophomore in 2019. Smith ranked second in the NESCAC this season at 164'4".
Nealis (London, England) claimed his first career All-NESCAC laurel by ranking third in the 1,500 meters, after running a 3:54.35 at the Tufts Invitational on May 8.
