January 17, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Carole Grills
(413) 585-2703

Pioneers Perform Well at Wesleyan Track & Field Invitational

Northampton, MA: Etta Grover-Silva (Arcata, CA) and Nora Youngs (Penacook, NH) each won their events today at the non-team scoring Wesleyan Track & Field Invitational in Middletown, Connecticut.

Grover-Silva provisionally qualified for the NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field National Championships with a vault of 3.67m (12' 1/2") in the pole vault.  Her height also qualified her for the New England Division III (NE III), Open New England and ECAC championships.  Youngs won the 3000m in 11:14.37 while teammate Ulrika Botzojorns (Bolton, VT) took third in 11:22.99.

First year Angela (Mary) Cote (Gardiner, MT) had a great day for the Pioneers as her finish in three events qualified her for the NE III championships in each event.  She placed second in the triple jump, 10.40m (34' 1 1/2"); 3rd in the long jump 4.91m (16' 1 1/2") and 5th in the 55m dash (7.90).  In other track events, Uzuri Sims (San Diego, CA) finished 5th (1:03.40) and Alina Ainyette (South Orange, NJ) sixth (1:03.82) in the 400m while Kathleen Given (Scarborough, ME) took second in the 5000m (19:34.53).

In field events, the Pioneers placed third, fourth, fifth and sixth in the shot put. Shakwana Etienne (West Orange, NJ), Catherine McGuinness (Fairfax, VT), Ruby Western (Burlington, Vt) and Sarah Romano (South Yarmouth, MA) had respective throws of 10.13m, 10.10m, 10.01m, and 9.75m.  Western, in her collegiate debut in the weight throw, finished second 11.69m (38' 4.25") while McGuinness threw 11.44m (37' 6.5") for third place.

The track and field team will compete again next weekend at the Brandeis Invitational.