More Records Fall as the Pride Compete at Tufts

MEDFORD, Mass. – Liz Ksepka (Calais, Vt.) broke the school record for the weight throw as the women's track and field team competed at the Branwen Smith-King Invitational Saturday afternoon, hosted by Tufts University.

Ksepka would be able to break the previous record by .03 meters with her throw of 14.17 meters, placing fifth in the event. Elisabeth Cooke (East Longmeadow, Mass.) and Vanessa Avard (Manchester, N.H.) would also set personal bests in the event with throws of 12.21 meters and 7.75 meters, respectively.

In the shot put, Ksepka would also be the leading thrower for the Pride with a distance of 11.22 meters, placing her in seventh.

All three runners in the 600 meter run would break their personal records. Emily Fagundo (Dover, N.H.) would complete the race with a time of 2:00.58, placing in the top 25. Lourdes Jean-Louis (Haiti) finished with a time of 2:06.25 and Hannah Plamondon (Woonsocket, R.I.) finished with a time of 2:18.38 in her first time running the event.

The 800 meter run saw sisters Ashleigh Kelley (Stoneham, Mass.) and Erin Kelley (Stoneham, Mass.) both break their personal records in the event. Ashleigh Kelley finished the race in 2:36.40 with Erin Kelley finishing in 2:51.16.

The 60 meter hurdles saw three Pride runners participate with two of them breaking their personal records. Malaysia Cabral (Boston, Mass.) set her new personal record at 10.48 seconds and Plamondon finished the event with a time of 11.55 seconds. Karen Di (Lowell, Mass.) would finish her first time in the event with a time of 10.61 seconds.

Regis would place in a tie for 14th out of the 18-team field with Plymouth State. Stonehill would best Tufts for the top spot with 157 points to Tufts's 130. Regis would place higher than Merrimack and Brandeis, who finished in a tie for 16th.

The next meet for the Pride will be the Panther Invitational hosted by Plymouth State University on Saturday, Feb. 2.