Women’s Track & Field Captures Fourth-Straight NE10 Outdoor Championship

This is the fourth-straight outdoor Championship and fifth in program history


Ward captured her first NE10 title as she bypassed the NCAA provisional qualifying standard (PHOTO BY: Alexandra Sexton)

MANCHESTER, New Hampshire (May 4, 2019) – After sitting second after day one of competing at the Northeast-10 Outdoor Conference Championship, the Stonehill College women's track & field team fought hard to get past Assumption College for their fourth-straight on Saturday at Penmen Stadium.

The women's squad totaled 185 points in two days after being down 13 points to the runner-up Assumption College, who totaled 169 points. Southern Connecticut State University placed third with 83 points, as Adelphi University and Southern New Hampshire University rounded out the top five with 73 and 64 points, respectively.

With this title, the women have won four-straight NE10 Outdoor Championships and five in program history. The Skyhawks have also won 12-straight championships including cross country, indoor and outdoor track & field. Over the past 18 NE10 Championships, the Stonehill women have won 17.

On day two, Stonehill totaled 18 All-Conference nods to bring their two-day total to 21, while there were three individual titles and one relay title to bring the total to five overall.

Madison Ward earned her first NE10 title with a NCAA provisional qualifying mark and new school record clearing a height of 5 feet, 7.75 inches. This mark is currently 11th on the NCAA Division II qualifying marks. Junior Kathleen Giusti took home a top-five mark at a height of 5 feet, 2.5 inches, while Ashley Daggett and Jessydoris Iwuala also earned points for the Skyhawks finishing seventh and eighth, respectively, with a mark of 5 feet, 0.50 inches.

Senior Olivia Dexter captured her second-straight 100-meter dash title with a new school record time of 11.91-seconds. This time bypassed the NCAA Division II provisional qualifying standard, as she currently sits 47th on the list. She also took home the 200-meter title with her time of 24.72-seconds in the finals.


Santoro, Higgins, Freeman, Lastra (L to R) earned the Skyhawks fourth title in the 4x800-meter relay  in five years 

The 4x800-meter relay team including Alyssa Freeman, Kelly Higgins, Adrienne Santoro, and Anna Lastra captured Stonehill's fourth title in the event in five years. The Purple & White clocked in a time of 9:23.01, as Freeman led off the race with an unofficial 2:19.12 leg, followed by Higgin's 2:21.45 unofficial second leg. The third leg, run by Santoro, was clocked in at an unofficial 2:23.22 and Lastra ran the anchor leg in an unofficial time of 2:17.55.

The 4x400-meter relay team was 10-seconds behind the winner taking the runner-up mark with a time of 3:57.33. Claire Hurtado led off the relay with an unofficial time of 60.2-seconds, while Krista Fernandes took the baton next with her 400-meter leg in an unofficial time of 58.4. Ashley Colarusso's third leg was run in an unofficial time of 59.6-seconds, and Dexter's anchor leg clocked in an unofficial time of 58.8-seconds.

Three Skyhawks earned points in the 800-meter run with Freeman leading the way with a third-place finish, an All-Conference accolade, and a New England qualifying time. She clocked in a career best time of 2:15.15, while classmate Lastra followed with a fourth-place finish in the finals with her career best time of 2:16.05. Senior Jillian Caiazzi wasn't far behind with a time of 2:19.36, finishing sixth in the event.

Junior Zoe Smith recorded her third All-Conference honor with a third-place finish in the 100-meter hurdles crossing the finish line in a career best time of 14.53-seconds. Also in finals, Fernandes placed sixth with a career best time of 14.96-seconds, qualifying for New England's and Abigail Creamer finished eighth with her time of 15.40-seconds.


Dexter won the 100- and 200-meter runs, while also competing in the 4x100 and 4x400 meter relays and the long jump for three All-Conference honors

Fernandes also competed in the 400-meter hurdles where she was the runner-up with her career best time of 1:03.59 for an All-Conference honor.

Junior Jordan Callahan took home an All-Conference honor with her second-place finish in the 3000-meter steeplechase clocking in a career best time of 11:12.86 and qualifying for New England's. Sophomore Sophia Anderle also took home a top-five finish with her time of 11:30.12.

Junior Shayla Lyons earned her second All-Conference honor with a third-place finish in the shot put with her mark of 41 feet, 10 inches. Freshman Krista Stracqualursi and junior Elizabeth Balzarini placed seventh and eighth, respectively, with marks of 39 feet, 4.5 inches, for a career best, and 38 feet, 0.25 inches, respectively earning points for the team.

Lyons collected her second All-Conference honor of the day and third career with a runner-up finish in the discus throw with a distance of 136 feet, 3 inches. Stracqualursi placed in the top five with a distance of 126 feet, 4 inches, as Jesica Litwa and Balzarini finished ninth and 10th overall in the field of 20 competitors.

Hurtado also earned points for the Skyhawks as she took home seventh in the 400-meter dash finals clocking in a time of 58.74-seconds.

Freshman Siobhan O'Keefe led the pack of five Skyhawks in the 5000-meter run finishing fourth out of 28 competitors with a career best time of 18:17.26. Senior Isabel Baker was next across the line finishing fifth overall with her time of 18:20.01.

The 4x100-meter relay team, including Sinead O'Brien, Smith, Colarusso and Dexter finished fifth with a time of 48.31-seconds.

The Skyhawks continue the Championship season as they will send a group to the New England Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Jess Dow Field in New Haven, Connecticut, hosted by Southern Connecticut State University from Friday, May 10 to Saturday, May 11.

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