McBride and Curit post All-Conference performances to lead Stonehill

Junior Katie Bernazzani advanced to the finals of the 100-meter hurdles.

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (May 4, 2012) – The Stonehill College women's track and field team, ranked fourth overall in this week's U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division II East Regional ratings index, checks in at fifth place overall following day one of the 2012 Northeast-10 Conference Women's Track and Field Championships, hosted by Southern Connecticut State University, at Jess Dow Field today.

Stonehill earned two NE-10 All-Conference performances, broke one school record and one meet record totaling 24 points on day one of competition. Southern Connecticut State University, in search of its third-straight conference title, leads all teams with 58 points.

Junior Caroline McBride (North Reading, Mass./North Reading) successfully defended her title in the 10,000-meter run in 38:29.88. McBride, who earns NE-10 All-Conference honors with her first place performance, broke the meet record by more than a minute. Melissa Bredice from The College of Saint Rose set the previous mark on May 3, 2008 with a time of 39:30.33. Sophomore Chelsea Bishop (Suffield, Conn./Suffield) added six points to the Skyhawks team score posting a third place finish overall in the event with a time of 39:44.50.

Freshman Maria Curit (Biddeford, Maine/Biddeford) placed second overall in the long jump with a leap of 18-feet and 3.25-inches to earn NE-10 All-Conference accolades and break her own school record in the event. Curit's previous high-water mark was 17-feet and 11.75-inches which she set at the Skyhawk Invitational on April 14, 2012. Sophomore Angelina Comei (Bradford, Mass./Haverhill) placed ninth in the long jump with a leap of 16-feet and 11.25-inches.

Junior Katie Bernazzani (Norwood, Mass./Norwood) finished second in heat three of the 100-meter hurdle prelims with a time of 15.49-seconds to advance to tomorrow's finals. Bernazzani is ranked fourth overall in the event with her qualifying time.

Freshman Lauren Hanlon (Georgetown, Mass./Georgetown) recorded a time of 16.00-seconds and junior Sarah Burke (South Yarmouth, Mass/Dennis-Yarmouth) posted a time of 16.46-seconds in the 100-meter hurdle prelims ranking tenth and 16^th overall, respectively.

In the 100-meter dash prelims, sophomore Amanda Egesi (Framingham, Mass./Framingham) ran a time of 12.89-seconds just missing out on qualifying for tomorrow's finals (tied for ninth overall).

Senior Vlada Shelkova (Newington, Conn./Newington) placed ninth overall in the javelin throw with a toss of 93-feet and 5-inches.

The NE-10 Championships continue on Saturday starting with the shot put at 11 a.m., with the 4x100-meter relay kicking off the track events at noon.