EASTON, Mass. -- Four ECAC qualifying marks and two top-ten finishes highlighted the Wellesley track and field team's action at the 2013 New England Intercollegiate Championships. The event, held at Stonehill College, featured the top runners from Divisions I, II and III.
Wellesley placed two runners in the top-ten at the event, both coming in the 1,500-meter race. Seniors Cristina Lucas and Randelle Boots finished ninth and 10th overall, both in ECAC qualifying times. Lucas recorded a personal best time of 4:36.19, while Boots was right behind her with a 4:36.29.
Sophomore Taylor Bickford bettered her ECAC seed time in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, finishing 14th overall. Her time of 11:50.31 marked a personal best.
Rounding out the individual action, Wellesley sent two to race in the 5,000-meter event, and one in the 800-meter. In the 5,000, Sophomore Vanessa Wilkins finished fourth in her heat and 17th overall (18:30.26), while senior Ada Smith placed seventh in her heat and 20th overall (18:56.22). In the 800, sophomore Alexandra Dunn finished 23rd overall in 2:21.87.
Wellesley also sent two relay teams to the event, one in the 4 x 800-meter race and one in the 4 x 400-meter race. In the 4 x 800, Wellesley's relay team finished fifth in their section and 13th overall (9:31.89). First-years Alessandra Gavin and Victoria Lee, along with Dunn and Lucas, combined for the number two time in program history.
In the 4 x 400 relay, Wellesley's entry set a new program record, qualifying for the ECAC Championships in the process. First-year Sharon Ng, sophomore Kathleen Hanlon, first-year Emma Kissane and sophomore Kendra Waters combined to finish 25th overall, while Hanlon and Waters recorded personal best 400 legs.
The Blue will be back in action on Thursday and Friday, as qualified athletes will take part in the 2013 ECAC Outdoor Championships. The event is being hosted by Springfield College.