Bancroft School Sophomore Ben Mattina Breaks 14-Year 3000m Record

Bancroft School sophomore Ben Mattina ‘28 ( Boylston, MA) set a new school record in the 3000 meters at the season’s opening track meet, posting a time of 9:17.40 and breaking a mark that had stood for 14 years.

“My goal was to stay on pace the entire time,” Mattina said. “Each lap had to be 74 seconds, so I knew what it would take.”

A resident of Boylston, Mattina began running after being introduced to the sport through local turkey trots with a cousin. He began training with high intensity in the ninth grade. To reach a competitive level, Mattina committed to a year round training schedule and utilized online resources to study coaching techniques and refine his form.

A transfer student from a Montessori school, Mattina joined Bancroft in eighth grade and quickly found a sense of belonging. He credits the school’s community and friendships as central to his growth both on and off the track.

With his mother watching from the stands, Mattina crossed the finish line in 9:17.40, surpassing the previous record by 1.25 seconds and securing his place in the school’s athletic history.

Despite the milestone, Mattina is already focused on what comes next. His goal for the season: to break the nine-minute barrier in the 3000 meters, he’s closer today. On April 29th, Ben broke his own record with a 9:09.80.