WATERVILLE, Maine – On Tuesday afternoon, the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) announced the recipients of its Track and Field weekly honors for the first week of the outdoor season. From the University of Maine at Farmington, Owen Booker (Lisbon, Maine) and Emma Syphers (Bangor, Maine) were named NAC Rookies of the Week, while senior Justin Castaldo earned NAC Track Athlete of the Week honors.

Booker, competing in his first collegiate outdoor meet, made an immediate impact by breaking the program's all-time record in the javelin and qualifying for the New England Championships. His first and best throw was measured at 55.51 meters (182' 1"), earning him third place overall. Booker shattered the previous record, set by Shane Hathaway in 2017, by over twelve meters. He also placed sixth in the pole vault at Friday afternoon's SNHU Invitational, clearing 2.75 meters.

Syphers, also competing in the first outdoor meet of her collegiate career, recorded a pair of fifth-place finishes in the long jump and triple jump. Her best long jump attempt measured 4.88 meters, while her top triple jump effort reached 9.99 meters.

Castaldo continued his standout senior season by qualifying for yet another New England Championship event, this time in outdoor track and field. At the season-opening meet in Manchester, New Hampshire, he secured a spot in the New England Championships in the 10,000 meters, finishing in second place with a time of 32:54.60. He maintained an impressive average mile pace of 5:18 over the six-mile race.

The trio will look to carry their momentum into this weekend's meet at Springfield College.