Hempstead, NY - Hofstra men's track senior Alex Masai has been honored as the 2021 United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Northeast Region Men's Track Athlete of the Year, the USTFCCCA announced today.

A graduate student from Eldoret, Kenya, Masai won the 10,000m race and qualified from the 5000m at the 2021 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships - East Preliminary from Jacksonville, Florida last week, becoming the first Pride track athlete to qualify for the outdoor track championships. Masai's time of 28:29.97 in the 10,000m was a Visit Jax Track at Hodges Stadium record, while his time of 13:42.09 in the 5000m was a new personal best.

A USTFCCCA All-American during the 2019 indoor track season and the 2020 cross country season, Masai previously received Regional Athlete of the Year honors in 2019 after winning the 2019 NCAA Division I Northeast Region Championships. He was the 5000m champion at the 2021 CAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, and he set a school-record time of 28:27.35 in the 10,000m at the Stanford Invitational. 

Masai will conclude his legendary Hofstra career at the 2021 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Heyward Field in Eugene, Oregon. Masai will run in the 10,000m on Wednesday (June 9) at 7:38 p.m. (PST)/10:38 p.m. (EST), and he will compete in the 5000m on Friday (June 11) at 6:55 p.m. (PST)/9:55 p.m. (EST).