University of Massachusets Athletics
Gina Perno Signs NLI With Women's Cross Country/Track
November 13, 2006 | Women's Track & Field
Nov. 13, 2006
AMHERST, Mass. - Gina Perno, a standout student-athlete from South Huntington, N.Y., has signed a National Letter of Intent to run for the University of Massachusetts announced women's head cross country and track coach Julie LaFreniere. Perno attends St. Anthony's High School where she was the Empire State Champion in the 2005 400-meters and runner-up in 2006 800 meters. She was also the 2005 800-meter champion at the North East Region Junior Olympics.
Perno has had an outstanding career at St. Anthony's and chose UMass over Iona (the second-place team at the NCAA Northeast Regionals in 2006), UConn, Sacred Heart, St. John's and Manhattan,
"Gina is a major competitor and will be a strong addition to our cross country and track programs. Her potential range is 400M thru the mile and cross country," said LaFreniere. "Gina is capable of scoring big points for us in the Atlantic 10 Conference in the 800 meters, the 1,000 meters and the 4x400 meters, 4x800 meters and distance medley relays. She has what it takes to qualify for NCAA Regionals and will represent UMass well in all three running seasons."
Other accolades for Perno include a pair of NSCHSAA Championship Titles in the 800 meters (2005, 2006), a fourth-place finish at the 2006 Youth National Meet in the 800 meters, and a third-place finish at the CHSAA Cross Country Championship Meet.
Along with her individual finishes at the Empire State Championships, Perno was a member of the back-to-back champion relay team in the 4x400 meters in 2005 and 2006.
She comes to UMass with personal-best times of 58.30 seconds in the 400 meters, 2:13.63 in the 800 meters, and 2:58.44 in the 1,000 meters. Each of those times would have led the Minutewomen last season during both the indoor and outdoor seasons and ranked among the top-10 at the Atlantic 10 Championships. Her top-time in the 800 meters would have won the league during the indoor season.