Photo Courtesy of Frank Poulin Sports Photography | Telegram & Gazette Recap
Springfield, MA --- Sophomore Alyssa Jasper (Rockland, MA) won the javelin and placed fourth in the heptathlon as she helped lead the Worcester State women's outdoor track and field team to seventh place at the ECAC Division III Championships on Friday afternoon.
Rowan won the meet with 63 points followed by Wheaton (57), Tufts (52) as Ithaca and MIT tied for fourth (52). Just behind Cortland State who chipped in with 39, the Lancers netted 35 points for their highest-ever finish at the ECACs.
Jasper became the seventh ECAC Division III event winner and fourth individual with a near school record setting toss of 146-5 (44.62m).
In the heptathlon, Jasper also tallied a career-best 4,416 points in the heptathlon which included the best throw in the javelin (42.84m/146-5), the shot put (11.82m/38-9.50) and the best split in the 200 meters (27.03).
Her heptathlon point total is currently the 27th best score in the NCAA Division III, which was just 49 points off from stamping her ticket to the outdoor championships. She was also garnered Co-MASCAC Field Athlete of the Week laurels.
Senior Briana Wise (Worcester, MA/Burncoat) finished her meet with second place in the open 200 (24.55) before she helped anchor the 4x100 meter relay of junior Christy Deininger (N. Attleboro, MA) along with sophomore teamates Brittany Hodgerney (Leicester, MA) and Liz Bodensieck (Raynham, MA) to a fourth-place time of 48.18.
For excellence on the track, Wise was recognized with MASCAC Track Athlete of the Week accolades for the 24th time in her career.
Deininger clocked a new school record in the finals of the 100 meter hurdles for third place (14.52) and sophomore Amanda Caldarone (Danvers, MA) scored points with a personal-best leap of 18-2 in the long jump (5.55m) for eighth overall.
Hodgerney wrapped up her day with 11th in a deep 200 field (25.43) for the 6th-best time for a student-athlete from New England and junior Megan Taylor (Danvers, MA) was 22nd in the 400 meter hurdles (1:07.18).
Several Lancers await word on whether they have made the cut for the NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships next week at Wisconsin-Lacrosse when the seedings are announced on Monday.