WALTHAM, Mass. – Seniors Steve Long (Newton/Newton North HS) and Mike Vatti (Easton, Pa./Easton Area HS) have been named captains of the 2011-12 Bentley University men's track and field team, coach Kevin Curtin announced.

"When I took over last year as head coach, Steve was already a captain," said Curtin. "Ed Lyons (Bentley's former coach) told me that he named Steve captain because he had the best work ethic on the team. I've seen nothing over the course of the past year indicate otherwise about Steve.  The fact that he's an All-East shot putter and leads off our 4x100 relay outdoors is testament to that."

Long owns the indoor school record in the 35-pound weight and on Bentley's all-time lists, ranks third in the shot (both indoors and out) and the discus. He finished third in the shot at last year's Northeast-10 Conference indoor championships, and was fourth in the shot and sixth in the discus at the NE-10 outdoors.  He received Division II All-East recognition following the both the indoor and outdoor seasons.

"Mike had a frustrating junior year," said Curtin. "He was hampered by a bunch of minor injuries but he pushed through them to help the men's 4x100 team qualify for the New Englands and I know that the guys appreciated his efforts.  He's back healthy, working hard and excited about having a great senior year."

Vatti has owned the indoor school record in the 200 meters (22.41) since February 2010, and also ranks second in school history in the indoor 200 and seventh in the 500. Vatti, who earned All-New England honors outdoors in the 200 in 2010, has personal best times of 22.24 in the 200, 49.24 in the 400 and 1:06.38 in the 500.

Bentley opens its indoor schedule Saturday in the Jay Carisella Invitational at the Reggie Lewis Center.