Announcing the Brandeis Track and Field Class of 2021!

Patrick Quinlan '21 (left) and Leinni Valdez '21 (right) will join the Judges' roster this fall!
Patrick Quinlan '21 (left) and Leinni Valdez '21 (right) will join the Judges' roster this fall!

Distance Women

Andrea Bolduc (Auburn, Mass./Auburn HS)

High School PRs: 800m - 2:27.83; Mile - 5:19

Andrea joins the Judges women's distance unit as a miler who has also had some success in the 800m. In her primary event, she qualified for the Mass. All-State meet after finishing 4th in the C/W Mass. D2 Championship as a senior. Additionally, she was a multiple-time SWC League champion in the mile.




Elise Hallstead-Williams (Middletown, Conn./Mercy HS)

High School PRs: 1600m - 5:45; 3000m - 11:26

Elise enters the Brandeis track & field program with a focus on longer distances, though she has plenty of experience with the mile as well. Her success in the longer events will be a boost to the women's cross country team and their success on the track.

 



Natalie Iwaszkiewicz (Woodbridge, Conn./Amity HS)

High School PRs: 1600m - 5:33; 3200m - 11:26; 5000m - 19:09

Natalie will come to Waltham next fall ready for cross country after a breakout senior year in which her 3200m PR dropped 48 seconds. Her success in the distance races will prove helpful in the adjustment to the collegiate championship distance of 6k.




Niamh Kenney (Hanover, Mass./Hanover HS)

High School PRs: Mile - 5:38; 2 Mile - 11:36

Like several of her incoming classmates, Niamh's primary race in high school was the 2 Mile in which she saw success nearly immediately running 11:36 as a sophomore. Despite not having indoor track at Hanover, Niamh finished in the top 8 of E Mass. D4 Championship every year of her high school career and won the Patriot League 2 Mile once as well.




Mahala Lahvis (Portland, Ore./Grant HS)

High School PRs: 800m - 2:34.38; 1500m - 5:27

In just her first year of competitive running, Mahala ran her 800m and 1500m PRs, leaving a lot of room for growth at the collegiate level where the addition of indoor track will no doubt help. She will concentrate her efforts on the 800m and middle-distance events.

 



Leinni Valdez (Providence, R.I./Hope HS)

High School PRs: 400m - 1:00.90; 800m - 2:18.50; 1500m - 4:51; 3000m - 11:21

From 400m to 3000m, Leinni has proven she has the range to be an excellent collegiate runner. Her most often contested race is the 800m in which she placed 12th, 4th, and 6th at the Rhode Island State Championships during her sophomore, junior, and senior years, respectively.




Lisbeth Valdez (Providence, R.I./Hope HS)

High School PRs: 400m - 1:00.20; 800m - 2:17.17; 1500m - 4:54

Joining her twin sister at Brandeis this fall, Lisbeth joins the Brandeis women's squad also having mainly focused on the 800m. Her 2:17 800m is one of the fastest marks of a Brandeis recruit in recent history. The past two years, she has finished 3rd and 5th in the Rhode Island State Championship.

 




Distance Men

 
Connor Crowley (Ludlow, Mass./Ludlow HS)

High School PRs: Mile - 4:47

Connor's graduates from Ludlow having achieved his greatest success on the cross country course. He placed 21st and 18th junior and senior year, respectively, at the W Mass. Div. Championships, earned him berths to the Mass. All-State meet.




Josh Lombardo (Westbrook, Maine/Westbrook HS)

High School PRs: 800m - 2:00.42; 1600m - 4:28; 3200m - 9:54

Heading south on route 95, Josh teams up with the rest of a Brandeis class that possesses a lot of versatility. While having success at the 800m and 3200m, Josh's most often raced event is the 1600m and mile in which he was 2nd indoors and 1st outdoors in Maine's Class A Championships.

 



Mark Murdy (Southington, Conn./Southington HS)

High School PRs: 1600m - 4:36; 3200 - 9:49

Mark joins the Brandeis men's distance squad after a great high school career in which he ran his 3200 PR as a junior, but unfortunately dealt with sickness most of the senior year track season. Additionally, he is an exceptional cross country runner, having broken 17 minutes (16:53) at Wickham Park, Connecticut's notoriously hard state course.

 



Luke Ostrander (Edgewood, Wash./Bellarmine Prep HS)

High School PRs: 1600m - 4:28; 3200m - 9:29

Flying cross country to bolster the Judges distance squad and hopes to feature as an important piece to the cross country program. His 9:29 3200m is one of the fastest recruit PRs in recent history for Brandeis. During cross country, his Bellarmine Prep team won the Washington 4A State Championship and finished 8th in a very competitive Northwest Cross Regional Championship.




Harper Pollio-Barbee (Philadelphia, Penn./Penn Charter HS)

High School PRs: 800m - 2:00.16; 1600m - 4:34

Primarily focusing on the 800m as a senior, Harper, will bring depth to the Brandeis mid-distance squad with his proven leg speed as well as cross country prowess. As a junior, he finished 2nd in the 800m at the Penn. Independent School Athletic Association Championship.




Tanner Richards (Northwood, N.H./Coe Brown Academy)

High School PRs: 1600m - 4:35; Javelin - 148'3"; Pole Vault - 12'0"

Tanner arrives at Brandeis as a New England qualifier in the pole vault, while also performing at a high level in the javelin too. However, Richards' primary focus will be the middle distance events and he will contribute to an impressive legacy of Brandeis distance men.




Eric Rosenheim (Haddon Heights, N.J./Haddon Heights HS)

High School PRs: 800m - 2:01.36; 1600m - 4:33; 3200m - 9:59

Improving the Garden State's presence on the Brandeis track and field roster, Eric will arrive in Waltham this fall coming off a strong senior campaign where he set PRs in the 800m, 1600m, and 3200m. His strength in the distance events will prove helpful in cross country too where he was 16th at the NJ Group 1 Championship as a senior.

 

Throws Men



Jesiah Matthews (Barre, Mass./Quabbin Reg. HS)

High School PRs: Discus - 130'1"; Pole Vault - 12'0"

A Massachusetts All-State qualifier after finishing 4th at the Central/West Mass. Div. 2 Championships. Jesiah also won the Mid-Wach C League Championships in discus as well as pole vault.  Jesiah will be joining the Brandeis throwers next year, specializing in discus.

 

Sprints Women



Jordan Brill-Cass (Mansfield, Mass./Mansfield HS)

High School PRs: 55m - 7.64; 100m - 13.53; 200m - 26.37



Jordan joins Brandeis track & field with a specialization in the sprints, Jordan was a key piece of Mansfield's NB Indoor Nationals qualifying 4x200 relay. While in outdoors she finished 7th at the E Mass Div. 1 Championships over 200m.

 

Tessa Holleran (Norwell, Mass./Norwell HS)

High School PRs: 55mh - 9.80; 100mh - 17.28; Triple Jump -31'2"

Tessa is joining Brandeis as at the reigning 55m and 100m hurdle Champion in the South Shore League. She will be focusing on the hurdles, long and triple jump for the Judges.

 

Sprints Men



Jake Ward (Weston, Fla./Cypress Bay HS)

High School PRs: 100m - 11.80; 200m - 23.90



Jake enters Brandeis track & field with a focus in the sprints and supporting a strong 4x100m relay. His range and experience will bolster a strong, young men's sprints group.

 

Matt Kimmelstiel (Framingham, MA/Framingham HS)

High School PRs: 55m - 6.88; 100m- 11.44; 200m- 23.32; 300m- 37.75



Coming off of a superb senior year with PRs in over 6 events, Matt will be another key piece for the Judges sprint and jump squad. He finished 7th in a highly competitive BSC Championship 200m.

 

Aaron Baublis (Westborough, Mass./Westborough HS)

High School PRs: 55mh- 8.39; 110mh- 16.06

Aaron enters the Brandeis track & field program as a high hurdler by trade, focusing on the 55mh indoors, and the 110mh outdoors. He comes off of a strong senior year where he was 2nd indoors and 3rd outdoors at the Mid-Wach Championships, in his respective events.

 



Pat Quinlan (Northampton, Mass./Northampton HS)

High School PRs: 200m - 23.68; 400m- 51.68



Pat's forte being the 400m, he'll be helping a wildly successful 4x400m Relay take the next step toward the big show. His senior year he had personal bests in 200, 300, 400 and 600 meters. Pat contributed to Northampton's 4x200m and 4x400m relays are NB Outdoor Nationals as a senior this year. His 4x400m relay finished the year 2nd in New England and Massachusetts All-State champions.

 

Jumps Men

Breylen Ammen (Lincoln, Mass./Lincoln-Sudbury Reg. HS)

High School PRs: Pole Vault - 13'6"; Javelin - 151'10"

Breylen joins Brandeis following former high school teammate, Aaron Corin '20 as a pole vault specialist. He finished 3rd at the MIAA All-State Championships, qualifying for the New England Championship. No stranger to the sticks, he'll be throwing javelin for the Judges as well.

 



Michael Leung (Stoneham, Mass./Stoneham HS)

High School PRs: 55m - 6.92; Long Jump - 19'2"

Michael's experience in both the sprints and jumps will benefit the Judges as he focuses on both disciplines. He comes off of a strong senior year where he set PRs in the 55m and Long jump.

 



Kevin Truong (Milford, Mass./Milford HS)

High School PRs: Long Jump - 21' 3"; Triple Jump - 41' 9.5"

Kevin takes a quick ride down the Pike to join the Judges. His wide range of experience in the jumps will be beneficial as he's slated to compete in the Long, Triple, and High jump. Coming off of a hot Senior year with huge PR's in all three, he looks to continue that hot streak.