University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
vs. Boston College & Rhode Island
Minutewomen Tie For Second At Outdoor Season Opener
April 03, 2015 | Women's Track & Field
AMHERST, Mass - The UMass women's track and field team kicked off their 2015 outdoor season with a home meet against Boston College and conference foe Rhode Island. Favorable weather conditions and a slight breeze provided an optimal start to a short but competitive season. Per NCAA rules, only two athletes from a team were allowed to score in each event.
Highlights of the meet included Heather MacLean's first-place finish in the 1,500 meter run which set the fourth all-time UMass program mark. Her finish along with team efforts produced a tied-for-second place finish at 107 points. Rhode Island took home first with 121 points.
In the 1,500 meter run, MacLean dominated the field in her first time to compete in that race. The sophomore took gold at 4 minutes, 31.77-seconds, a New England and ECAC qualifying performance. The run also set the fourth all-time UMass program mark. In third as UMass' second scorer in the 1,500m was Rachel Hilliard. The senior ran 4 minutes, 38.50-seconds to bronze and also qualified for the New England Championships. Rounding out the field, but unable to score came Carly Zinner in fifth and Renee Capps in sixth.
Colleen Sands took silver in the 3,000 meter run at a blazing fast 10 minutes, 9.29-seconds. Finishing eighth was Alexandra Purdue-Smithe at 10 minutes, 35.44-seconds. Courtney Neves took silver in the 800 meter run with a 2 minute, 18.73-second performance. In fourth was Krista Webb at 2 minutes, 19.30-seconds. At fifth and sixth but unable to score were Zinner (2 minutes, 19.32-seconds) and Hilliard (2 minutes, 19.80-seconds), respectively. In the 400 meter hurdles, Alexandra Rewick took sixth at 1 minute, 13.10-seconds.
Brittany Green and Camille Edwards had success in the 100 meter dash. Green took sixth at 13.26-seconds and Edwards took eighth at 13.32-seconds. In the 100 meter hurdles, Meghan Patrolia took fifth at 15.50-seconds. Ashley Palmer took fifth in the 200 meter dash at 26.28-seconds.
In jump events, Ashley Palmer claimed the top spot in long jump at 17 feet, 11.00-inches. Close behind came Courtney Kromko at 17 feet, 9.50-inches to take second place and wrap up long jump scoring. Bridget Deveau captured third place at 16 feet, 7.75-inches and Julia Witt took fifth at 15 feet, 8.25-inches but were unable to score.
Julia Witt continued her success in the field winning the high jump with a height of 5 feet, 3.00-inches. In third came Katie Osborne at 4 feet, 11.00-inches. In pole vault, Katherine Gabriele took bronze at 10 feet, 6.00-inches. Tied for fourth was Sarah Bierly at 10 feet, 6.00-inches. In sixth but unable to score was Rachel Busch at 10 feet, 0-inches.
In throwing events, Margaret Riseborough won the shot put. Sara Wagner threw 38 feet, 1.40-inches to take bronze. In fourth but unable to score, Alexa Fearing and Nathalie Irmer tied with a 36 foot, 7.75 inch throw. Rounding out the finishers, Lucy Belt was sixth at 32 feet, 9.50-inches. In the hammer, Wagner placed second, first among collegiate competitors, with a throw of 153 feet, four inches.
Discus provided several successful finishes for the Minutewomen. Nathalie Irmer earned bronze at 118 feet, 2.00-inches. Wagner finished fourth at 115 feet, 1.00-inches. In sixth and seventh but unable to score were Riseborough and Fearing. Emma Robinson threw 117 feet, 0-inches in javelin to capture second place. Close behind, and the final UMass scorer in the event came Belt in fourth at 103 feet, 1.00-inches.
UMass had several 4x400 relay teams competing o Friday. The `A' team consisting of Neves, Katie Powers, MacLean, and Krista Webb earned silver at 3 minutes, 56.94-seconds. The `B' team of Bridget Deveau, Brittany Green, Kelsey Sheridan, and Witt took fourth at 4 minutes, 4.27-seconds but was unable to score. Lastly, the `D' team of Zinner, Deirdre Martyn, Hilliard and Renee Capps placed seventh at 4 minutes, 21.04-seconds but was unable to score.
Next up for the Minutewomen comes another home meet with the Minuteman Invitational slated for next Saturday, April 11 at the UMass Track & Field Complex. Start time is slated for 11:30 a.m.
