Mendelson Defends 3K NEC Title, Women's Track Qualifies Five For Finals on Saturday
Senior Brittany Mendelson won her second straight 3,000 meter run championship with a time of 10:05.04.
Senior Brittany Mendelson won her second straight 3,000 meter run title at the 2017 Northeast Conference Indoor Track Championships on Friday, Feb. 17 inside Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in Staten Island, NY, to lead the Central Connecticut women's track and field team. The Blue Devils had five members qualify for event finals on Saturday.
Mendelson's gold medal time of 10:05.04 earned 10 of the Blue Devils' 21.50 points, placing them third behind Sacred Heart (30.67), and Robert Morris (35.33), after the first day of the conference championships.
After a seven-way high jump tie at 1.59m, sophomore McKenna Kilian shared the silver with Robert Morris' Nicole Florio. Freshman Hailey Rospierski tied for fourth-place with LIU Brooklyn's Angeli Andre.
2017 NEC CHAMPIONSHIP HEADQUARTERS
Leading CCSU's qualifiers for Saturday's finals was senior Melissa Wolliston in the 60m hurdles. Wolliston turned in the second-fast qualifying time at 8.85, and classmate Sarah Hicks followed at 8.89.
Prior to winning the 3,000 meter run, Mendelson qualified in the mile with a time of 5:12.59. Senior Tayler Boncal will run in the finals of the 500 meter dash after turning in a mark of 1:18.26.
Sophomore Sierra Nesmith turned in the second-fastest qualifying time in the 400 meter dash with a time of 58.59.
Senior Jazmin Booker turned in a prelim time of 2:25.79 in the 800m run. Sophomore Morgan Ricci broke a personal-record finishing at 2:35.95. Kilian placed 10th in the long jump finals with a mark of 5.10 meters. Junior Abrah Toomey and rookie Valeria Hernandez competed in the weight throw. Toomey threw 13.25 meters and Hernandez threw 12.83 meters.
Senior Sherise Truman and freshman Erica Snape represented CCSU in the 200 meter dash. Truman ran a time of 25.63, and Snape clocked in at 25.95.
The 2017 NEC Indoor Track and Field Championship action will pick up at 10:00 a.m. Saturday with the 60 meter hurdle finals featuring Wolliston and Hicks. Catch up on all the highlights and interviews from Friday's performances on NEC Front Row.