Saunders Takes First at URI Saturday
Junior Ronea Saunders led the Blue Devils with a high jump victory at the URI "Coaches" Coed Invitational Saturday.
The Central Connecticut women's track and field team competed at the University of Rhode Island "Coaches" Coed Invitational on Saturday, finishing seventh. Junior Ronea Saunders claimed the only victory for the Blue Devils with her impressive high jump performance of 1.75 meters.
Senior Shelby Tuttle, who currently owns the CCSU record in the 60m hurdles (8.90), finished third in the prelims for the event, clocking a time of 9.04 and qualifying for the finals. Tuttle finished seventh overall in the finals with her time of 9.08.
In the 60m hurdle prelims, Tuttle was followed by freshman Melissa Wolliston (15th, 9.36). Sophomore Alyssa Gonzalez also competed in the event, registering a career-best time of 9.56 for 18th place.
Gonzalez also raced the 60m dash prelims where she finished 11th of 28 with her time of 8.07. Freshman Alleah Red finished 18th in 8.27 seconds.
Red also performed well in the 200m dash, crossing the line in 26.30 seconds for 13th out of 40 sprinters. Junior Chantelle Deer finished on Red's heels, registering a career-best time of 26.53 for 14th.
Deer also competed in the 400m dash in which she placed sixth (1:00.69), finishing just before Tuttle (eighth). Tuttle, however, earned a career-best time of 1:01.11 in the race.
In the one mile, junior Shannon McBride posted a career-best time of 5:18.66, good for 14th place of 25 distance runners. McBride also ran the 500m dash in which she placed ninth, clocking a time of 1:23.07.
In her first collegiate appearance in the 800m run, reigning NEC Rookie of the Week Brittany Mendelson placed fourth with her time of 2:18.22. She was followed by junior Taylor LePage who finished in a season-best time of 2:21.14 (eighth).
Sophomore Ally Gates earned a new career-best time in the 1,000m run on Saturday. Gates crossed the finish line 14th with her time of 3:10.03.
Sophomore Chelse Terry performed well in the field events, claiming ninth of 23 in the weight throw. She posted a season-best distance of 14.54m. Terry also threw for 10.76m in the shot put, finishing 11th of 19.
The Blue Devils will return to action next Saturday, Feb. 8, when they kick off day one of the 2014 Indoor Track and Field Northeast Conference Championships.
