BOSTON, Mass. -- The Wellesley College track team had a record-breaking performance at this weekend's Boston University Valentine Invitational. Highlights of the meet included two NCAA automatic qualifiers, one NCAA provisionally qualified relay and all eight entered athletes qualifiying for next week's Division III New England Championships. 

Leading the way for Wellesley were junior Leah Clement and sophomore Randelle Boots, who each tallied national-best times and NCAA automatic qualifying marks. Clement posted a time of 2:12.18 in the 800-meter run, the fastest time by an NCAA Division III runner this season.  Boots also hit a NCAA Division III best, running a 4:53.18 in the mile and surpassing her own school record by four seconds.

Clement and Boots were later joined by first-year Adiba Manning and sophomore Cristina Lucas to post an NCAA provisional qualifying time of 12:01.04 in the distance medley relay.  The event consists of a 1200 (Clement- 3:39.93), 400 (Manning- 63.02), 800 (Lucas- 2:22.51) and 1600 (Boots- 4:55.58).  The Blue's time was the second fastest time in NCAA Division III this season.

Also for the Blue, Camille Basurto posted a time of 18:13.85 in the 5,000 meter run.  She surpassed her old personal best in qualifying for both the New England Intercollegiate and the ECAC Division III Championships.

In the 500 meter run, the Blue's Manning took first in her section, in a time of 1:20.87, a new Wellesley record. Also running the event, Eden Bass finished third in her section in 1:24.37 and Lena Cardoso took fourth in 1:25.16.

Rounding out the strong finishes for the Blue, Margaret Wehner won her section of the 800 in a personal best time of 2:25.25.

The Blue's qualified athletes will race next weekend at the New England Division III Championships hosted by MIT.