BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Bridgewater State College freshman Bill Taft has been named the Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Men's Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week.

Taft captured the meet title in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the Eric Loeschner Memorial meet hosted by Fitchburg State College last Saturday.  The Hanson, Massachusetts native set a personal best in the event with a time of 9:50.79. 

Taft, who has qualified for the New England Division III championships in the steeplechase, also ran a leg on the Bears first place 4 x 800-meter relay squad which posted a time of 8:51.15.  Joining Taft on the relay team were fellow freshmen Mike Sukeforth (Middleboro, MA), Kevin Sheehan (Rockland, MA) and Adam Cook (Hanover, MA).

Also at the meet, the versatile Taft posted a fifth place finish in the javelin with a distance of 158' 0.0".