Nda, Luscier Earn All-America Honors at NCAA Indoor Meet

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- UMass Boston senior and Taconic High graduate Dom Nda made history Saturday afternoon as he became the first sprinter in program history to earn All-America honors at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field National Championship.
 
Nda earned a seventh-place finish in the men's 60M dash to earn All-America honors for the first time in his career. He's only the second male track & field athlete to earn Indoor Track & Field All-American honors. Rob Grieco won the shot put at Indoor Nationals in 1998.  
 
Nda got off to a strong start out of the blocks, but couldn't quite hold on with the lead pack of six runners. In the end, Nda finished in 6.96 seconds for a seventh-place finish overall.
 
With the seventh-place finish, UMass Boston men's track & field earned two team points and currently sits 41st overall. 
 
UMass Boston men's track & field will return to action on Friday, when they compete on Day 1 of the University of Miami Hurricane Invitational in Miami, Fla.
 
Springfield College's Courtney Luscier (Pittsfield, Mass.) earned the third All-America honor of her career in the 60 meter dash, as the senior took fourth overall with a time of 7.67 seconds on Saturday afternoon at the Birmingham CrossPlex.
 
Luscier has now established herself among the Springfield College women's indoor track and field greats, as she joins Barbara Swallow, Nikki Hay and Beth Bowler as the only student-athletes to earn three All-America honors throughout their careers at Springfield College. Luscier was also seventh in the event as a sophomore in 2016 and fourth as a junior in 2017.
 
Earning the fourth-fastest prelim time of 7.65 seconds on Friday, which was a new Springfield College women's indoor track and field program record, the sports biology major crossed in 7.67 seconds to take fourth overall. Winning a national title in the event was UMass Boston's Wadeline Jonathas, as she posted a time of 7.41 seconds, finishing ahead of Quinn Harlan of Roanoke, who clocked in at 7.52 seconds, while Birmingham Southern's Karmin Shute was third with a 7.61. 
 
Taconic’s Drew DeMartino, who graduated high school midway through his senior year to attend college at the University of Hartford, has started six games and played in seven for the Hawks’ Division I baseball program. DeMartino has a .125 batting average in 24 at-bats for Hartford (1-10).
 
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Hinsdale OKs Police Department Audit After Fatal Shooting

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

HINSDALE, Mass. — The town has approved $25,000 for an administrative review of the police department, more than two months after police fatally shot 27-year-old Biagio Kauvil during a mental health crisis. 

Town Administrator Robert Graves said the shooting on Jan. 7 is not the only focus of the audit, and it will be several months before the Select Board receives a final report. 

During a special town meeting on March 11, an article appropriating $25,000 from free cash for an independent consultant to conduct a professional evaluation and audit of the Town's Police Department was approved. The audit includes a review of the department's policies, protocols, operations, and procedures, and concludes with a written report. 

"The Berkshire County District Attorney's Office and Massachusetts State Police are investigating the shooting, and we await their conclusions.  As we look to move forward, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, our insurance company (MIIA/Cabot Risk), and our legal counsel have recommended that the town hire an independent law enforcement consultant or firm to conduct a comprehensive administrative review of our police operation," Graves wrote in an email to iBerkshires on Friday. 

"This event is not their focus; they will assess the overall operation. We want a written assessment of our police operation's strengths and weaknesses to help Hinsdale make future changes and improvements." 

He said after completing the procurement process and signing a contract with a reputable consultant or business, it will most likely be several months before the Select Board receives the final report. 

"Still, it will help the town and police department move forward," Graves wrote. 

Last weekend, family and friends of Kauvil stood in Park Square asking for justice. A flier for the standout reads "Biagio was killed by police while experiencing a mental health crisis. Now, over seven weeks later, authorities have not yet provided any updates.

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