Qualifying Marks Highlight Stonehill at Ellis Invitational

Mahoney knocks down program record in 5000m as she and McBride each earn second New England Championships entry


Kristen Mahoney bested the Stonehill record in the 5000m run Friday evening.

PRINCETON, N.J. (April 24, 2011) – Stonehill College, ranked third in this week’s U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division II East Regional index, was led by a school record and a pair of New England Championships entries at this weekend’s Larry Ellis Invitational, hosted by Princeton University. Thirty-five teams from Divisions I, II, and III were in attendance at one of the largest meets of the season.

Junior Kristen Mahoney (Weymouth, Mass./Weymouth) powered Stonehill to a fast start on Friday night with her record-setting performance in the 5000-meter run. Mahoney placed 42nd overall in the field of 88 with her time of 17:29.40, slicing a second off the six-year-old program record of 17:30.71. Sophomore Caroline McBride (North Reading, Mass./North Reading) followed in 71st position at 18:06.73 as both cleared their second qualifying mark for next month’s New England Outdoor Championships, after previously making the cut in the 10,000m event at the Tufts Snowflake Classic.

Juniors Maura Ferrarini (Springfield, Mass./Cathedral) and Jill Alves (Whitman, Mass./Whitman-Hanson) turned in strong performances in the 1500m run on Saturday, as Ferrarini placed 19th in a season-best 4:49.43 and Alves finished 28th overall with a time of 4:57.47. Junior Christen Carrier (Manchester, N.H./Manchester Central) also ran her fastest 800-meter time of the season, placing 16th in 2:18.30.

Sophomore Katie Bernazzani (Norwood, Mass./Norwood) also improved on her season best in the 100-meter hurdles, placing 28th in 15.64 seconds. Classmate Sarah Burke (South Yarmouth, Mass/Dennis-Yarmouth) finished 48th in 16.94 seconds. Freshman Katie Polakowski (Essex Junction, Vt./Essex) placed 37th to lead the Stonehill contingent in the 400-meter hurdles at 1:08.51, followed by Burke in 1:11.16 and senior Danielle Wheeler (Carmel, N.Y./Carmel) in 1:13.27.

Freshman Krista Chauvin (Seekonk, Mass./Seekonk) placed 18th in the javelin, throwing 114 feet, six inches, closely followed by sophomore Olivia Dyson (Reading, Mass./Reading) in 19th at 111 feet, five inches. Junior Erica Insel (Clinton, N.J./Voorhees) threw 108 feet, three inches to place 21st. Chauvin also turned in a 21st-place finish in the discus throw, with a mark of 102 feet, seven inches.

The Skyhawks are in action on their home track next Friday, as Stonehill hosts the Skyhawk Invitational at W.B. Mason Stadium. Events begin at 4:00 p.m.