Senior Leanne Kent was a member of the 4x200 meter relay that set a new schoold record today.

Dexter, Esernio qualify for New England Championships as Skyhawks take team title

MEDFORD, Mass. (January 30, 2016) – The Stonehill College women's track & field program, ranked second in this week's U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division II East Regional rankings, turned in a first place team finish at the Tufts Stampede, hosted by Tufts University, at the Gantcher Athletic Center today.

Freshman Olivia Dexter (East Calais, Vermont/U-32) led the way for Stonehill with an event win in the 60-meter dash, qualifying for New Englands with a time of 7.91 seconds, while senior Jeana Esernio (Stony Brook, New York/Ward Melville) also qualified for New Englands, placing first in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 9.19 seconds.

Senior Jordan Gray (Warwick, Rhode Island/Toll Gate) finished first in the 200-meter dash, clocking in at 25.85, while sophomore Emily Knox (Worcester, Massachusetts/Notre Dame Academy) led a host of Stonehill entries in the 5000-meter run with her first-place finish in 18:22.25. The Skyhawks claimed two of the top three places and four of the top 11 overall in the event.

Stonehill won today's meet, which was made up primarily of Division III programs, with 173.50 total points. The Skyhawks edged host Tufts University, by five points. Wesleyan University (118 points), Southern Connecticut State University (73 points) and Wellesley College (41) rounded out the top five.

Freshman Krista Fernandes (Taunton, Massachusetts/Coyle & Cassidy) finished first in the 400-meter dash with a time of 59.73, while junior Megan Bobinski (Torrington, Connecticut/Holy Cross) placed seventh in 1:02.99.

Freshman Elizabeth Hannon (Franklin, Massachusetts/Bishop Feehan) and classmate Jillian Caiazzi (Marlborough, Massachusetts/Marlborough) each registered an event win, with Hannon placing first in the 800-meter run (2:21.62) and Caiazzi taking first in the 1000-meter run (3:04.69).

Senior Jeana Esernio qualified for New Englands in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 9.19 seconds.

Stonehill received strong performances from its relay teams, with the 4x200 meter relay placing first and setting a new program record with a time of 1:47.47, while the 4x400 meter relay captured second place with a time of 4:17.15. The 4x200 relay that set the new school record consisted of Gray, senior Leanne Kent (North Andover, Massachusetts/Central Catholic), Fernandes and freshman Hannah Ameen (Andover, Massachusetts/Andover).

Freshmen Courtney Daggett (Attleboro, Massachusetts/Attleboro) and Ashley Daggett (Attleboro, Massachusetts/Attleboro) placed first and third, respectively in the high jump, clearing a height of 5-feet, 3.75-inches and 4-feet, 11.75-inches.

Junior Margaret Lepley (Lynn, Massachusetts/Bishop Fenwick) placed fifth in the weight throw with a distance of 44-feet, 7.5-inches, while senior Jenn Tenczar (Chicopee , Massachusetts/Chicopee) finished in sixth place with a distance of 44-feet, 2.5-inches.

Senior Stephanie Fitzgerald (Coventry, Rhode Island/Coventry) placed fourth in the triple jump with a distance of 33-feet, 1.25 inches.

Sophomore Gaelin Farrell (Baldwinville, Massachusetts/Narragansett Regional) and senior Trisha Pierson (East Hanover, New Jersey/Hanover Park) placed second and third respectively in the shot put with distances of 39-feet, 1.25-inches and 38-feet, 7.50-inches.

Sophomore Alison Tobin (Hudson, Massachusetts/Hudson) competed in both the pole vault and long jump, finishing in sixth place in both. Tobin cleared 9-feet, 6.25 inches in the pole vault and cleared 15-feet, 2.75-inches in the long jump.

Stonehill will be back in action next Saturday at the URI Coaches Tribute Meet, hosted by the University of Rhode Island at the Mackal Fieldhouse in Kingston, Rhode Island.

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