Fitchburg State Claims Fourth At MASCAC Championships

Women place fourth with 66 points: Men earn fourth with 51 points

GORHAM, Maine (February 10, 2013) – The Fitchburg State men’s and women’s indoor track and field teams competed at the New England Alliance/MASCAC Championship this afternoon hosted by the University of Southern Maine.

Leading the way on the men’s side was senior Zach Desrochers (Dracut, Mass./Greater Lowell) claiming top honors in the weight throw, with a toss of 17.90m, while also finishing tenth in the shot put (12.52m). Classmate Pat Conaty (Southington, Conn./Southington) was also solid in the pole vault, placing third overall with a height of 4.15m.

On the track, senior Will Lary (Winchendon, Mass./Murdock) put forth a pair of solid times in the 1000m (2:38.47) good for a sixth place finish, while adding a time of 4:34.49 in the mile. Sophomore Jim Quinlan (North Andover, Mass./North Andover) was also strong in the mile (7th) and 1000m (11th), registering times of 4:30.52 and 2:42.39 respectively.

Senior Michael Grasela (New Bedford, Mass./New Bedford) placed fifth overall in the 5000m with a time of 16:17.56, while adding a time of 9:27.24 in the 3000m, while freshman Tim Allen (Methuen, Mass./Central Catholic) posted a solid time of 16:56.18 in the 5000m (11th). Sophomore Ethan Gorecki (Winchendon, Mass./Murdock) added an 13th place finish in the 600m with a time of 1:28.05, while freshman Akhiel Willis (Acton, Mass./Acton-Boxborough) was also solid for the Falcons, placing 12th in the triple jump (12.22m). Sophomore Brandon Davis (Fitchburg, Mass./Fitchburg) rounded out the top performers on the men’s side, finishing seventh overall in the 800m with a time of 2:04.48.

Paving the way for the women was sophomore Rebecca McClure (Lyndeborough, N.H./Wilton-Lyndeborough) placing second overall in the pole vault, with a vault of 3.05m. while junior Samantha Wilkinson (Wakefield, Mass./Wakefield) registered a sixth place finish in the 600m with a time of 1:41.70.

Junior Alyson Moreau (Barrington, R.I./Barrington) was strong in the 600m (10th) with a time of 1:48.75, while sophomore Jenae Harrison (Sioux Falls, S.D./Washington) notched a ninth place finish in the 800m (2:30.45).

Sophomore Braila Roy (Hyannis, Mass./Barnstable) put forth a solid seventh place effort in the 1000m with a time of 3:14.33, while senior Chenice Branquinho (East Freetown, Mass./Old Colony) placed sixth overall in the 3000m with time of 11:30.49, while adding a tenth place finish in the 5000m (20:10.72).

Freshmen Elizabeth Ward (Ashby, Mass./North Middlesex) and Erica Mallozzi (Gardner, Mass./Gardner) were strong in the mile with times of 5:48.69 (11th) and 5:50.51 (13th) respectively, while senior Megan Gonzalez (Ridgewood, N.J./Ridgewood) rounded out the top performers on the women’s side, placing 12th in the shot put with a toss of 9.92m, while adding toss of 11.35m in the weight throw (13th).

The Fitchburg State men’s and women’s track and field teams will be in action again next weekend as members compete at the Division III New England Championships.