Del Maestro Becomes First USTFCCCA All-Region Honoree In Women’s Track & Field Program History

USTFCCCA RELEASE

BEVERLY, Mass. — Endicott hurdler Bianca Del Maestro (Malden, Mass.) has earned U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Region honors, as announced by the organization earlier this week.

Del Maestro is the first student-athlete in women's track and field program history, indoors or outdoors, to receive All-Region accolades.

Student-athletes garner USTFCCCA All-Region honors for finishing top-5 in an event.

Del Maestro currently ranks fourth overall in the East Region with a time of 8.99-seconds in the 60-meter hurdles.

She posted the All-Region clinching time in the prelims of the NCAA Division III New England Championships on February 24, eventually finishing fifth overall in the finals of the event. 

The performance was historic as Del Maestro became the first student-athlete in program history to score points in a track event at New Englands.

"Bianca has endured quite a journey to see these breakthroughs, but her focus and persistence has allowed her to build some very good fitness over the last few years. Making progress one step at a time and listening to herself when she needs the recovery is key to long-term and sustainable growth," said Endicott women's track and field head coach Spencer Lange. "The joy she has experienced and the support from her teammates has been inspiring to see it bring everyone together. The opportunities she's created for herself and the team are constantly growing and we're looking forward to outdoor for her last season!

Remarkably, the Gulls only competed in two full team meets as a program during the season, but still ranks a program-best 15th overall in the East Region (D3).

Endicott also is 35th overall among all NCAA Division III teams competing in the 60-meter hurdles, per the Event Squad Rankings.

The Event Squad Rankings compare teams with four or more competitors in an event against other programs with four or more student-athletes in the same event and compute those into team standings.

Endicott's 60-meter hurdles group currently ranks second in the East Region as well.

The Gulls' top-4 hurdlers include Del Maestro, Kinneal Dickens (Merrimac, Mass.), Kara Quinlan (Stoneham, Mass.), and Nicole Woo (Newton, Mass.).

Dickens is positioned 21st on the East Region leaderboard (9.92), while Quinlan and Woo followed in 43rd (10.34) and 46th (10.50) place, respectively.

In total, 13 school records fell during the indoor season including the distance medley relay, 4x400-meter relay, 60-meter hurdles (five times), 400-meter dash, pole vault (twice), 800-meter run, 1,000-meter run, and the long jump.

Del Maestro was responsible for breaking the 60-meter hurdles record all five times.

"The team has made great use of their time since we returned from break in late January. While our training in the fall and winter has helped pave the way for some early breakthroughs during the indoor meets, our emphasis on who we are as teammates and finding balance on a daily basis has been more impactful," said Lange. "The team has really come together and set the tone for who we want to be over the next few months. To see school records spread across different events and coming from everyone from freshmen to seniors/grad students is exciting to see for them. We still have plenty of work to do but this group has been enjoying the ride thus far and supporting each other every step of the way."

WHAT'S NEXT

Endicott opens up its spring season at the Elmer Swanson Classic, hosted by Wesleyan University, on Saturday, March 25. 

For the latest on Endicott Athletics, follow the Gulls on social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

(Photo Credit - David Le '10)