Fitchburg State Soars At Tufts Stampede
The Fitchburg State men’s and women’s indoor track and field teams soared this past weekend as they competed the Tufts Stampede hosted by Tufts University.
Muolo paces men with a pair of top two finishes; Harrison qualifies for DIII NE’s in 600m
BOSTON, Mass. (February 5, 2012) – The Fitchburg State men’s and women’s indoor track and field teams soared this past weekend as they competed the Tufts Stampede hosted by Tufts University.
The Falcons women’s team faired very well, turning in yet another post-season qualifier as freshman Jenae Harrison (Sioux Falls, S.D./Washington) registered a DIII New England mark with a 1:44.09 effort in the 600m dash. Sophomore Samantha Wilkinson (Wakefield, Mass./Wakefield) also qualified again in the 600m with a time of 1:45.53 while freshman Stephanie Irvin (Malden, Mass./Mystic Valley) notched a MASCAC mark of 2:00.65.
The ladies were also tough in the 400m dash with senior Kat Marrone (Springfield, Mass./Springfield Central) leading the way. Marrone turned in a blistering pace of 63.10 in the event, while Rachel Blanchard (Billerica, Mass./Shawsheen Valley) and newcomer Alyson Moreau (Barrington, R.I./Barrington) added times of 63.73 and 70.90.
Freshman Arthina Robert (Lynn, Mass./Lynn Voc Tech) posted a season-best mark in the 200m with a time of 27.80, while the trio of Chenice Branquinho (E. Freetown, Mass./Old Colony), Alyson Gnoza (Middleton, Mass./Masconomet) and Jen Berrian (Tewksbury, Mass./Tewksbury) wrapped up the Falcons top runners with times of 2:48.40, 2:54.86 and 3:00.62 in the 800m.
Junior Megan Gonzalez (Ridgewood, N.J./Ridgewood) led all throwers for the Fitchburg State women’s team, posting a mark of 11.02m in the weight throw and 10.37m in the shop-put. Senior Katy Scott (Wilbraham, Mass./Minneachaug) also tossed for the Falcons, turning in a 10.89 heave in the weight throw.
On the men’s side, seniors Matt Muolo (Stoneham, Mass./Stoneham) and Chris Kibler (Bath, Maine/Morse) paved the way again for Fitchburg State. Muolo notched a pair of top two finishes, earning first in the weight throw (17.55m) and second in the shot-put (14.53m), while Kibler turned in a time of 4:22.42 in the mile and an effort of 2:39.16 in the 1000m.
Junior Mike Grasela (New Bedford, Mass./New Bedford) and freshman Brandon Davis (Fitchburg, Mass./Fitchburg) were both strong in the 3000m with times of 9:35.00 and 9:46.01, while sophomore Joseph Hollenbeck (Ashby, Mass./North Middlesex) collected a season best in the 55m hurdles with a time of 9.34. Sophomore Pat Conaty (Southington, Conn./Southington) rounded out the top performances of the day with a time of 24.80 in the 200m dash.
The Fitchburg State men’s and women’s track and field teams will be in action again next weekend as they compete at the MASCAC Championships beginning at 11 a.m.