Cambridge, MA --- Senior Alyssa Jasper (Rockland, MA) defended her heptathlon crown from last season with 4,811 points to help pace the Worcester State women's track and field team to sixth at the Division III New England Championships (36 points).
Today's finish marked the fourth consecutive top ten effort for the Lancers at the outdoor Division III New England Championships and the squad had the highest standing for a public school regionally, just edging out Southern Maine who placed seventh (36 points).
Jasper shattered the New England record she established last year (4,741 points) with first place in the 200 (25.61), 800 (2:27.32) and javelin (133-0.75/40.55m). She was only 36 points away from resetting the Worcester State school record held by All-American heptathlete Elke Aun and set in 1996.
In the open javelin, Jasper was also third overall (40.20m/131-11) for her third career Division III accolade in the event. She is currently in 18th nationally in the javelin and her point total from today moves her into seventh place in the NCAA Division III.
Senior Amanda Caldarone (Danvers, MA)placed third in the long jump (17-9.50/5.42m) while junior Hanna Carson (Natick, MA) tossed a school record 41-2.50 (12.56m) in the shot put with fourth overall, resetting the program mark she established last week.
Senior Alexandria McMahon (E. Longmeadow, MA) had a solid day with sixth in the 400 meter hurdles (1:03.02) and eighth in the 100 meter hurdles (15.90) before classmate Brittany Hodgerney (Leicester, MA) timed seventh in the 200 (25.69).
Sophomore Aliya-Marie Melville (Worcester, MA/South) chipped in with seventh in the 400 (59.19).
The 4x100 relay of McMahon at leadoff, freshman Emily Visconti (N. Reading, MA), Jasper and Hodgerney recorded fifth with 48.67 while the 4x400 of Melville, junior Eva Bunszell (Bridgewater, MA), Hodgerney and McMahon at anchor was just off the program standard in eighth (4:02.63).
Other strong performances included sophomore Erin Beccia (Holden, MA) in the 10,000 (40:24.07) who placed tenth and qualified for the ECAC Division III Championships.
Caldarone and Maddie Benson (Attleboro, MA) were ninth (15.60) and tenth (15.70), respectively, in the 100 meter hurdles as Caldarone had a leap of tenth in the triple jump (35-6.50/10.83m).
Sophomore Elizabeth McCormack (Gloucester, MA) tossed 11th in the discus and 13th in the hammer (137-10.50/42.02m) while junior Delena Le (Worcester, MA/Doherty) notched 14th in the 400 meter hurdles (1:06.56) and she tied for 17th in the triple jump (34-3.50/10.45m).
Junior Francesca Casasanta (Milford, MA) equaled 14th in the high jump (4-10.5/1.49m) while classmate Molly Downing (Dedham, MA) registered 27th in the hammer (124-11.50/38.08m and Carson wasn't far behind in 29th (121-9/37.10m).
Freshman Megan Rouillard (Barrington, NH) rounded out the finishers with 22nd in the javelin (101-3.25/39.86m).
Next week select Lancers will return to MIT to compete at the Open New England Championships.
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