Women's Track & Field Places Third at MASCAC Outdoor Championships

WESTFIELD, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University Bears placed third at the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Women's Outdoor Track & Field Championships held on Saturday in Westfield.

Worcester State University won the women's team title led by seven meet record-setting performances as the Lancers compiled 226 points to outdistance Westfield State (177), Bridgewater (112) and Fitchburg State (94).

The MASCAC championship was held in conjunction with the New England Alliance championship, which included both MASCAC and Little East Conference schools. The University of Southern Maine won the nine-team Alliance championship with 170 points, followed by Worcester (150.5) and Westfield (106).  The Bears placed sixth in the Alliance standings (66).

The competition was outstanding in the MASCAC women's championships as 10 meet records were set and another record was tied.

Bridgewater's Molly Rouillard bettered the MASCASC record in the 5,000 meter run by nearly 40 seconds with a time of 17:50.79.

Also claiming MASCAC individual crowns for the Bears were: Sarah Lagasse (3,000 steeplechase, 11:01.07), Co Davis (400, 58.82), Melissa Harris (800, 2:20.57), and Carrie Robitaille (long jump, 17'0.75).

Davis eclipsed Kristin Neville's BSU school record in the 400 with her time of 58.82 seconds, bettering Neville's 2003 mark of 59.00.  Lagasse broke her own school standard in the steeplechase beating her previous best of 11:26.32 by just over 25 seconds.

The MASCAC crown marked Worcester's second in the 22-year history of the championship. The Lancers also took top honors in 2010. Westfield had won 13 of the past 14 championships prior to this year.

Standout junior sprinter Briana Wise was a double winner for Worcester, hitting the tape first in the 100 and 200 meter dashes in meet record times of 12.16 and 25.17.

In addition, the Worcester 4 x 100 and 4 x 400 relay squads posted victories in record clockings of 48.17 and 4:03.48, respectively.

Lancer freshman Alyssa Jasper also was a double winner, capturing top honors in the shot put and the discus.

Also placing first for Worcester State were: Brittany Grueter (3,000 steeplechase), Christine Deininger (100 hurdles), Megan Taylor (400 hurdles), and Katie Cataldo (javelin).

Deininger and Taylor set meet records with times of 14.87 and 1:05.05, respectively, in the hurdles. Cataldo established a new standard with a toss of 40.31 meters (132-2) in the javelin.

Westfield had four individual winners, led by hammer thrower Amanda Gricus, who shattered the conference and school records with a sensational throw of 54.29 meters (180 feet, 2 inches). She is currently ranked second nationally in NCAA Division III.

Also placing first for the Owls were: Amy Trainque (1500 meter run, 4:48.87), Amy Auclair (pole vault, 3.05 meters), and Laura Poore (triple jump, 11.00). Trainque set a new mark in the 1500 and Auclair tied her own meet record in the pole vault.

Fitchburg had one individual champion as Emily Lane won the high jump by clearing 1.58 meters (5-2 1/4).