Gill Provisionally Qualifies For NCAA Indoor Championships In Mile, Guardabascio Qualifies For New Englands For Men's Indoor Track At Boston University Invitational

January 29, 2005

STONEHILL INDOOR TRACK & FIELD

Boston University Invitational

Saturday, January 29, 2005

Boston, Mass.

BOSTON, Mass.-- Both Stonehill indoor track and field teams competed over the weekend at the Boston University Invitational, and three Chieftains provisionally qualified for the 2005 NCAA Division II Indoor National Championships with solid performances in their respective events.

Senior Dianna Chivakos (South Hamilton, Mass.) and junior Erin Smith (Brockton, Mass.) both provisionally qualified for the NCAA Championships in the 5,000 meters, as Chivakos placed 17th individually with a time of 17:10.05 that currently ranks as the second fastest time in Division II this season. Smith placed 23rd in the event that was dominated by Division I entrants with a time of 17:33.18, which is currently the fifth best time in Division II nationally this year.

On the men’s side, freshman Keith Gill (Brockton, Mass.) provisionally qualified for the NCAA nationals in the mile with a time of 4:14.45, good for 19th place individually, as he also qualified for the upcoming New England Championships. Senior Fran Guardabascio (Mansfield, Mass.) also qualified for the New England Championships in the 1,000 meters with a time of 2:29.17 that was good for fifth place, while junior Paul Viggiano (Trumbull, Conn.) set a school record in the 400 meters with a time of 50.57, good for ninth place in the event. Freshman Richard Gerry (Bow, N.H.) set a freshman record in the 800 meters for Stonehill in posting a time of 1:55.63 that was good for 22nd place.

Both Stonehill squads return to action next Saturday, February 5th as the Chieftains travel to Medford, Mass. to participate in the Tufts Invitational that begins at 11:00 a.m.