Fitchburg State Opens Season At Jay Carisella Invitational

LeBlanc earns fourth in men's pole vault; Lane qualifies for DIII NE's in high-jump

BOSTON, Mass. (December 4, 2010) – The Fitchburg State men's and women's track team opened their 2010 campaign this afternoon as they traveled to Northeastern University for the Jay Carisella Invitational.

On the men's side, Fitchburg State performed well in the All-Division contest propelled by a strong field effort. Junior Alex LeBlanc (Ashburnham, Mass./Oakmont) earned the highest finish for the Falcons on the afternoon, placing fourth overall in the pole vault with a jump of 14-5.25. Sophomore Jephte Pierre (Middletown, N.Y./Middletown) was also solid in the event, jumping 13-5.25 feet for a ninth place finish, while classmate Kimson Jean (Roslindale, Mass/Swampscott) added a height of 6-2 in the high-jump (16th).

Senior Matt Muolo (Stoneham, Mass./Stoneham) added to the Falcons top field performers, placing in the top 15 for the shot-put and weight throw events. Muolo notched his best finish in the weight throw, placing fourth with a toss of 16.50m, while posting a 13th place showing in the shot-put with a distance of 13.58m.

On the track, senior Matt Spano (Gardner, Mass./Gardner) collected Fitchburg State's best finish, pacing the Falcons mid-distance runners in both the 1000m and 5000m events. Spano notched times of 2:45.51 and 15:45.47 in the events, while sophomore Will Lary (Winchendon, Mass./Murdock) finished 18th overall in the 1000m with a time of 2:50.59.

In the sprint events, sophomore Tim Hill (E. Bridgewater, Mass./E. Bridgewater) turned in a great effort in the 55m dash with a time of 7:02, while junior Peter Rowe (Taunton, Mass./Coyle Cassidy) placed 23rd in the 55m hurdles with a time of 8.47. Junior Jimmy Petersen (Groton, Conn./Fitch) rounded out the Falcons top sprinters in both the 200m and 400m events, registering times of 23.81 (29th) and 52.45 (29th).

On the women's side, Fitchburg State received several strong efforts, including ten Alliance/MASCAC qualifying efforts and two DIII New England marks. Sophomore Emily Lane (Clinton, Conn./The Morgan School) started her 2010 campaign off strong, qualifying for MASCAC's in the 55m hurdles (9.68) and high-jump (5-1.75), while also earning a DIII mark for her high-jump effort.

Junior Kat Marrone (Springfield, Mass./Springfield Central) and sophomore Rebecca True (Rutland, Mass./Wachusett Regional) both posted MASCAC marks in the 400m and 800m sprints with times of 63.81 and 2:56.55 respectively, while also leading the 4x400 relay team of Kara Reynolds (Agawam, Mass./Pioneer Valley) and Shannon Fitzgerald (Blackstone, Mass./Blackstone Regional) to the post-season with a time of 4:56.66.

The Falcons also received strong performance from its field members as sophomores Megan Gonzalez (Ridgewood, N.J./Ridgewood), Shanissa Sampson (Marlborough, Mass./Marlborough) and Riley Sullivan (Somerset, Mass./Somerset) notched MASCAC marks in the weight throw and shot-put. Gonzalez and Sampson notched 17th and 19th place showings in the shot put with throws of 10.36m and 10.20 respectively, while Sullivan posted the best Falcons weight throw of the day with a 10.16m effort.

The Fitchburg State men's and women's track team will be in action again next Saturday as it travels to Harvard University at 11 a.m.