Track & Field

#AETF Week 2: All Teams Take to the Track

BOSTON – Seven #AETF programs competed this past weekend, with a number of student-athletes posting impressive finishes at the Raleigh Relays while Bryant and UMass Lowell hosted competitions.

Four different programs had athletes compete at the Raleigh Relays, highlighted by NJIT’s Jesse Fotheringham who posted the third best time in the country in the 3,000 meter steeplechase.
 
This coming weekend all nine schools are in action.

#AETF  Weekly Award Winners – March 31

Female Field Athlete of the Week
Alessandra Forgione, UMass Lowell – Fr., Throws, Peabody, Mass.
  • In first-ever outdoor meet, broke school record in javelin with a distance of 44.60 meters.
  • Finished 9th at Raleigh Relays and the throw ranks 44th in the East Region.
  • This is Forgione’s first #AETF Athlete of the Week honor.
 
Female Track Athlete of the Week
Jesse Fotheringham – Fr., Distance, Tamworth, NSW, Australia
  • Took third in the 3,000 meter steeplechase at the Raleigh Relays with a time of 9:58.55.
  • The time ranks 3rd in the nation and 1st in the East Region.
  • This is Fotheringham’s first #AETF Athlete of the Week honor.
 
Female Rookie of the Week
Jesse Fotheringham, NJIT – Fr., Distance, Tamworth, NSW, Australia
  • Took third in the 3,000 meter steeplechase at the Raleigh Relays with a time of 9:58.55.
  • The time ranks 3rd in the nation and 1st in the East Region.
  • This is Fotheringham’s first #AETF Athlete of the Week honor.
 
Male Field Athlete of the Week
Yoofi Abaka-Amuah, New Hampshire – Sr. ,Throws, Worcester, Mass.
  • Won the discus with a throw of 48.04 meters at the Jaylin Rainford Invitational and took second in the hammer with a throw of 60.32 meters.
  • The hammer throw currently ranks 37th in the East Region.
  • This is Abaka-Amuah’s first #AETF Athlete of the Week honor during the outdoor season.
 
Male Track Athlete of the Week
Wouter van den Akker, UMass Lowell – Gr., Distance, Groningen, Netherlands
  • Raced to a 15th-place performance out of 95 total finishers in the 10,000m at the Raleigh Relays with a 28:57.87 mark
  • He now ranks first in the conference this season in the 10,000 meters and is 10th in the East Region.
  • This van den Akker’s first #AETF Athlete of the Week honor during the outdoor season.
 
Male Rookie of the Week
Ojigwe Olua, UMBC – Fr., Sprints, Catonsville, Md.
  • Won the 110 hurdles at the Dan Stimson Memorial Invitational with a time of 14.17 seconds.
  • The time ranks 30th in the East Region.
  • This is Olua’s first #AETF Athlete of the Week honor during the outdoor season.

2026 #AETF Weekly Award Winners
March 24- Female Field Athlete: Lalenii Grant, UAlbany; Female Track Athlete: Skyler Smith, UAlbany; Female Rookie: Lily Bandy, UMBC; Male Field Athlete: Iosif Papa, UMBC; Male Track Athlete: Steve Hines, UAlbany; Male Rookie; Jacob Martin, UMBC
March 31- Female Field Athlete: Alessandra Forgione, UMass Lowell; Female Track Athlete: Jesse Fotheringham, NJIT; Female Rookie: Jesse Fotheringham, NJIT; Male Field Athlete: Yoofi Abaka-Amuah, New Hampshire; Male Track Athlete: Wouter van den Akker, UMass Lowell; Male Rookie; Ojigwe Olua, UMBC


ABOUT AMERICA EAST
Founded in 1979, the America East Conference is an elite NCAA Division I athletic conference that fosters an environment for student-athletes to become champions. Comprised of academically renowned, like-minded member institutions located in the Northeast region of the United States, America East is committed to broad-based excellence and progressive in its approach to supporting its more than 3,500 student-athletes across 18 sponsored sports. For more information, visit www.AmericaEast.com and follow the America East Conference and its social media channels, @AmericaEast.