January 24, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Hannah Shalett
(203) 417-3222

Track Team Takes Eighth Place at Reggie Poyau Meet; Grover-Silva Tied for 1st in Nation

Northampton, MA: The Pioneers finished 8th overall at the Reggie Poyau Meet held today at Brandeis University. Pole vaulter Etta Grover-Silva (Arcata, CA) led the way for Smith taking home first place with a height of 3.75 m (or 12' 3 1/2"). This was an NCAA Nationals automatic qualifying height and elevates Grover-Silva to tied for 1st in the country in this event.

In addition to the standout performance by Grover-Silva, the Pioneers had two athletes qualify for Division III New Englands during this meet. Uzuri Sims (San Diego, CA) who took home 4th place in the 400 with a time of 1:03.12 and Kaitlin Eison-Washington (Portland, OR) who qualified in the 55m dash with a prelim time of 7.86. Her final time of 7.93 was good enough for 6th place at the meet.

The Pioneers took home third place in the distance medley relay with a time of 13:32.98 put up by Uli Botzojorns (Bolton, MA), Alina Ainyette (South Orange, NJ), Kristin Peck (Bethlehem, NY), and Nora Youngs (Penacoot, NH). In the 4x400 relay, Ainyette, Alice Kaufman (Medford, MA), Sims, and Peck finished seventh with a season best time of 4:24.49.

Other performances of note, Mary Cote (Gardiner, MT) took home eighth in the triple jump with a distance of 9.93m (32' 7") and Shakwana Etienne (W. Orange, NJ) finished sixth in the shot put with a distance of 10.67m (35' 1/4").

The Pioneers return to action Saturday the 31st as they travel to the University of Southern Maine.