Billerica sophomore Mason Niles has been selected as the Valley Sports Daily Boys Player of the Week for Oct. 20 through Oct. 26. Niles is the fifth student-athlete chosen as Boys Player of the Week for the 2025-26 school year, which is presented on a weekly basis.
Niles flew to the finish line in 15:55 to capture the boys individual title at Saturday’s Merrimack Valley Conference championship at Shedd Park. Niles kept a 5:08 pace around the Lowell course to edge James Kelly (16:06) for first place. The talented sophomore has been a top runner in the MVC all fall and has been improving each week throughout the season. He claimed his first meet victory against Lowell and Chelmsford in the last tri-meet of the season (13:23) and kept his momentum into the league event.
“He’s been a natural talent since joining the team in 8th grade and really shines at this distance, though he’s also a standout on the track,” said head coach Sydney Fitzpatrick. “His goal going into MVC’s was to win, and he ran a smart, tactical race: took the lead midway, and never looked back. Mason is a phenomenal teammate, a true hard worker, and honestly one of my favorite athletes to watch compete since I began coaching. Competing is something he’s a natural at, and he confidently enjoys the bigger races that give him opportunities to race with the best. Only a sophomore, he’s already making a name for himself in the sport.”
Niles also won the Ocean State Invite Varsity Race in Rhode Island and placed fifth at the MSTCA Twilight invite with a time of 15:36.8.
The Player of the Week is selected by the Valley Sports Daily staff. Nominations can be submitted throughout the week up until Saturday night at 8:00 PM. There may be a poll posted on Sunday with the nominations. The results of the poll influence the selection but do not strictly dictate the decision.
