Early last month, four UMass Boston Track & Field athletes left Dorchester and headed to Brighton for a competition at The Track at New Balance in the 2025 Showdown at The Heights. 

Though the Beacons typically compete at the Division III level, the meet, hosted by Boston College, featured several DI teams, giving Derrick Touba, Jhenelle Evans, Justin Riley, and Dorchester’s Melvin Wiltshire the opportunity to compete at the highest level. 

Jhenelle Evans was one of four Beacons who put on a strong performance at the 2025 Showdown at The Heights.

“It was a chance for us to really cut down on our times, considering New Balance is one of the best indoor facilities in the world,” said Wiltshire, who placed 26th overall. “I ran the 200m and had a big PR of 23.17; that was my best ever 200m race.”

He didn’t start running track until his senior year at Boston Latin Academy in 2022. “I did football my junior and senior year, and my football team won the city championship for Boston Public Schools, and I just thought to myself, ‘let me try track and see what happens,’” Wiltshire told The Reporter. “I did indoor and outdoor track and became a captain, and I found out I was pretty decent at it.”

Even so, Wiltshire, now a junior studying computer science, had no idea he would soon become a collegiate athlete. Looking back, he hopes to inspire other kids from the neighborhood to consider doing things they never thought they could.

“Growing up in Dorchester, there are a lot of different challenges and obstacles you may encounter. No matter who you are, what situation you’re in, there is still a way to succeed,” Wiltshire said. “I have been through a good amount of that living in Dorchester. I’ve been through some lows and some highs, but regardless of that fact, I’m still able to stay consistent to who I am.”

His teammate and fellow junior, Derrick Touba, is originally from New York but is also proud to now call Dorchester home.

“You can still be competitive at a high level no matter where you are from,” said Touba, who competed in the 60m dash. “People from this community can do great things even though [other] people may count us out.”

He finished the 60m sprint in 7.25 seconds, earning a spot at 16th overall. Senior Jhenelle Evans raced in the same event in the women’s division and finished 17th overall with a time of 8.15 seconds. 

Meanwhile, Sophomore Justin Riley, like Wiltshire, raced in the 200m dash. He also ran a new best of 23.02 seconds and placed 23rd overall.

Next week, the Beacons will compete in NCAA DIII Indoor Nationals at Rochester.