University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Beantown Challenge
Minutewomen Produce 20 Top-Eight Finishes At Two Day Meet
January 17, 2015 | Women's Track & Field
CAMBRIDGE, Mass - After two days of events at the Harvard Multi Meet and Beantown Challenge, many Minutewomen are celebrating personal victory after team efforts led to 20 top-eight finishes. The individual successes were highlighted by Heather MacLean's record-breaking performance in the 1,000m and senior Becky Stoyle capturing the top spot in the triple jump with a mark of 40 feet, 2.25 inches, .25 inches shy of her school record/personal best. The Minutewomen placed fourth out of six teams, facing top regional competition.
Long distance events produced three top-eight performances from the Minutewomen. MacLean took silver in the 1,000 meter run. In her first time competing in the event, the sophomore posted a time of 2 minutes, 49.10-seconds, demolishing the UMass record set by Nicole Way in 1999 (2:50.59) and qualifying for the ECAC and New England Championships. Rachel Hilliard ran a blazing fast time of 5 minutes, 2.57 seconds in the 1 mile run, earning seventh place with the New England qualifying time. Freshman Colleen Sands had another excellent showing in the 3,000 meter run. Sands ran to seventh place in 10 minutes, 16.17-seconds, qualifying for the New England Championships, as well.
Carly Zinner and Krista Webb had stellar performances in the 800 meter run. Zinner took fourth with a time of 2 minutes, 17.56-seconds, while Webb ran to sixth in 2 minutes, 22.24-seconds (a New England qualifying time). In the 400 meter run, Kelsey Sheridan ran 1 minute, 1.87 seconds, good for seventh place.
Brittany Green took bronze in the 60 meter hurdles. Green ran a time of 8.97-seconds to third place and a New England Championships qualification.
The relay competitions produced two scoring finishes for the Minutewomen. The women's 4x880 yard, 2 mile relay `A' team took second place, finishing in 9 minutes, 21.36-seconds. The relay team was comprised of Rachel Hilliard, Krista Webb, Heather MacLean, and Carly Zinner. The 4x440, 1 mile relay team of Becky Stoyle, Kelsey Sheridan, Krista Webb, and Bridget Deveau took sixth with their 4 minute, 07.24-second finish.
Margaret Riseborough had great personal success in throwing events. Riseborough threw 46 feet, 10.00-inches to a seventh place finish in weight throw. She later took seventh again in shot put, throwing 41 feet, 10.75-inches, a New England-qualifying throw.
Jumpers proved to be of great strength to the team during the days of competition. In high jump, Julia Witt took eighth place, leaping a height of 5 feet, 2.25-inches. Pole vaulter Sarah Bierly took eighth in vault. Bierly cleared 10 feet, 4.00-inches.
Long jumpers Ashley Palmer, Camille Edwards, and Courtney Kromko took third, fourth and fifth respectively in the long jump competition. Palmer jumped 17 feet, 6.00-inches to take bronze while Edwards leapt 17 feet, 2.75 inches and Kromko 17 feet, 2.00 inches.
In addition to Stoyle's first place finish in triple jump, Courtney Kromko and Ashley Palmer found additional success in the event. Kromko took third with her 36 foot, 0.75-inch performance and Palmer took sixth, jumping 35 feet, 8.50-inches.
Next up for the Minutewomen comes the Joe Donahue Indoor Games on Friday, January 23, 2015. The event, located in Roxbury Mass, begins at 4:00 PM.
