BOSTON, Mass., January 28, 2023 – In what was an all-around terrific day for the No. 10-ranked Monroe College Mustangs men's track and field team, the highlights of the day were Prince Mcabelo and Karim Belmahdi re-setting a pair of Monroe College indoor records on Friday on Day 1 of the John Thomas Terrier Classic, hosted by Boston University.
 
Mcabelo's big moment came in the 800-meter run on Friday. He placed sixth overall out of 137 finishers, clocking in at 1:49.94 to set a new program standard in the event, a record he had previously set at last year's John Thomas Terrier Classic (1:50.57). Mcabelo's time also qualifies him for the 2023 NJCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships in the event.
 
Belmahdi once again set a new Monroe College record in the mile run on Friday. He clocked in at 4:08.25 to shave more than three seconds off his personal-best and program-record time in the event. Out of 230 finishers in the event, he placed 52nd overall despite being the only NJCAA athlete in the race.
 
The Mustangs also earned three more NJCAA Indoor Championship qualifiers on Friday. Running in the 200-meter dash for the first time, Joseph Muzenda ran a time of 21.68 seconds, placing him fourth overall in the race out of 121 finishers, as well as sending him to the NJCAA Indoor Championships.
 
The Mustangs sent two teams into the 4x400m relay on Friday. The foursome of Kiron O'garro, Jaheim Dotson, Mcabelo and Leroy Chapman finished with a time of 3:16.84, placing them third out of 21 teams and qualifying them for the NJCAA Championships in the relay event. The team of Javon Soiro, Robensky Duffault, Thomas Strouble and Akeerie McFarlane finished with a time of 3:24.85.
 
Kgaogelo Moloisi closed out the day in the 3,000-meter run for his debut race as a Mustang. He punched in a time of 8:30.79, surpassing the qualifying standard for the NJCAA Indoor Championships in the event.
 
Jonathan Hackshaw, Wayne Stephenson and Ethanael Elliott all joined Mcabelo in the 800m. In that order, they crossed the finish line in 1:59.28, 1:59.88 and 2:19.68.
 
The Mustangs had six representatives in Friday's 400-meter dash. Chapman was Monroe's first finisher with a time of 50.09 seconds. McFarlane was next with a personal-best time of 50.16. Dotson finished the race in 50.37 seconds. O'garro also set a new personal-best time after crossing the line in 50.48 seconds. Vadley Sylvester ran a time of 50.83, while Soiro finished the race in 51.74 seconds.
 
David Joseph represented Monroe in the 60-meter hurdles. He finished with a time of 9.27 seconds.
 
Duffault, Strouble and Joseph all ran with Muzenda in the 200m. Duffault ran a new personal-best time of 22.77 seconds. Strouble also set a new personal-best time at 23.41 seconds. Joseph clocked in at 23.61 seconds.
 
The Mustang women will compete on Day 2 of the John Thomas Terrier Classic on Saturday. Monroe will then split the squad next weekend, as they compete in two separate two-day meets. The Bruce Lehane Scarlet and White Invite will take place on Friday, Feb. 3, and Saturday, Feb. 4, back at Boston University, while the Rutgers Scarlet Knights Open will cover the same dates at The Armory in New York City.
 
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 35 teams competing across nine sports. There are 21 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well the Monroe College marching band and the newly added esports and men's volleyball programs, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus, has 11 teams competing at the NJCAA Division III level.
 
For more information about the Monroe Mustangs, please visit us at www.MonroeCollegeMustangs.com or follow us on social media: Facebook (Monroe Mustangs Athletics), Twitter (@Monroe_Mustangs) and Instagram (@monroemustangs).