CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - First year Ella Whinney (Madison, Wis.) nearly set a program record in the 3000 meter steeplechase for Wellesley College track & field in the MIT Final Qualifier at Sherie and Don (1961) Morrison Track.

Whinney's won the 3000 meter steeplechase event with a time of 10:42.72, within two seconds of the Blue's program record. Senior Ellie Murphy-Weise (San Francisco, Calif.) had a personal-best time of 10:53.28 to earn third. Both Whinney and Murphy-Weise now hold top-25 times nationally for the 3000 meter steeplechase, with Whinney sitting in eighth at the time of this release.

Senior Claire Anderson (Denver, Colo.) placed fourth in the 5000 meter race with a PR of 17:19.58, which currently ranks 51st nationally for Division III.

The trio of Blue runners will await tomorrow's NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships selection to see if they'll be competing in Rochester, N.Y. next week.