University of Massachusets Athletics
WT&F Headed To Charlotte For A10 Meet
May 04, 2011 | Women's Track & Field
May 4, 2011
AMHERST, Mass. - The UMass women's track and field team will participate in the Atlantic 10 Championship meet on Saturday, May 7 at 9 a.m. in Charlotte, N.C. Last year at A-10s, which was hosted by UMass, Karen Roa set the school all-time record in the steeplechase for the second time in her career with a time of 10:50.10. She has since bested it two more times. Rachelle Bourque set the school all-time record in the javelin throw with a mark of 139-08.
Last Time Out
Last week at the UMass Pre-Conference meet, Stephanie Aguguo set the all-time mark for UMass in the triple jump, a goal she was itching to accomplish before her senior year was over. She leapt for a mark of 40-10.50, which bested her previous personal best mark by 16.5 inches. Gina Perno set the third all-time mark in the 800 meter run with a time of 2:10.92, which is a personal best for her in both the indoor and outdoor seasons in the event.
Senior Studs
This year's group of seniors have proven themselves strong competitors in the indoor season and look to continue their success this outdoor season:
Gina Perno
Coming off an indoor season where she placed second at the New England Championships in the 1000 meter run, Gina Perno looks to continue her stellar senior year in the outdoor season. Perno's time of 2:51.47, which tied the second best all-time mark at UMass and qualified her for the ECAC Championship meet, where she finished in seventh. She also holds the second best all-time mark at UMass in the 800 meter run, with a time of 2:12.62.
Stephanie Aguguo
In this past indoor season, Aguguo has started to leave her mark at UMass, grabbing the second best all-time mark at UMass in the triple jump with a leap of 40-03.25. This mark also made her an A-10 Champion in the triple jump and qualified her for the New England Championship meet, where she took second place, and the ECAC Championship meet, where she took seventh place.
Ida Okkonen
Along with Stephanie Aguguo, Ida Okkonen has helped form a dynamic duo in both the long jump and triple jump. Okkonen was a New England Championship qualifier in the two events and set the fourth highest all-time mark in the triple jump in the 2010 indoor season. During the 2010 outdoor season, Okkonen was the team's top long jumper and was once again a New England Championship qualifier in both the long and triple jumps.
Elizabeth Fisk
Coming of a great indoor season, Elizabeth Fisk looks to finish her senior year with a bang. She qualified for the New England Championships in the mile run with a time of 5:05.93, where she finished 16th with a time of 5:08.64. In the 2010 outdoor season, Fisk was a New England Championship qualifier in the 1500 meter run and was a member of the 4X800 meter relay squad that set the second fastest all-time mark at UMass.
Junior Leaders
This indoor season boasts stand out juniors, Karen Roa and Deanna Julian just to name a few:
Karen Roa
This outdoor season, Karen has proved herself to be a strong distance runner, finishing first in the 1500 meter run at the Minuteman Invitational. In the indoor season, she qualified for the New England Championship meet in the mile run, the 3000 meter run, and the 5000 meter run. She set the school's fourth all-time mark in both the 3000 meter run and the 5000 meter run as well.
Deanna Julian
So far this outdoor season, Deanna has placed high in the 800 meter run. She placed third behind teammate Gina Perno at the Minuteman Invitational. This past indoor season, Deanna qualified for the New England Championships in the 500 meter run, and currently holds UMass' fifth best all time mark in the event. She also ran on all of the relay teams in the indoor season.
Sophomores in the Field
The Minutewomen have some standout sophomores in the field events this outdoor season.
Nalis Mbianda
In the 2011 indoor season, Nalis proved herself to be a worthy thrower, as she replaced her own previously held second all-time mark at UMass in the shot put with a throw of 44-11.50 at the Valentine Invitational. To start off this outdoor season, Nalis has already taken a first place finish at the UMass Invitational (42-05.50).
Rachelle Bourque
Another impressive shot putter in the Indoor season, Rachelle holds the fourth all-time mark in the shot put with a throw of 43-05.25. She is also beginning to make her mark this outdoor season and has placed first in the javelin throw at the AIC Invitational and second at the UMass Invitational, where she threw 137-07.00.
Kaylee DeVincent
This past indoor season Kaylee had the season best mark in the weight throw with a throw of 45-00.25. She also competed in the shot put, with her best throw of the season coming at the A-10 Championship meet (40-03.25). In the outdoor season, Kaylee competes in the shot put, the hammer throw, and the discus throw.
Rebecca Banker
This high jumper sought new heights in this past indoor season, jumping a personal best 5-05.00 and setting the fourth best all-time mark at UMass in the event. She looks to continue her success this outdoor season in the high jump, as well as in the long jump.
Sophomores on the Track
These sophomore Minutewomen all had impressive indoor seasons and are itching to prove themselves in the outdoor competition:
Michelle Jenssen
This sophomore made her mark this past indoor season, qualifying for both the New England Championship meet and the ECAC Championship meet in the 500 meter run. At the NEC meet, she set the team's season best time in the 500 with a time of 1:15.65, which was also the fourth best all-time mark at UMass.
Erika Unger
Starting to stand out on this squad is Erika Unger, who qualified for the New England Championship meet in the 500 meter run with a time of 1:17.46. She also competed in the 4x400 meter relay at the NEC meet along with fellow sophomore Michelle Jenssen.