March 18, 2009

TRACK & FIELD OPENS OUTDOOR SEASON AT HUSKY SPRING INVITATIONAL

SMITHFIELD, R.I.  -  The Bryant University men's and women's outdoor track & field teams will open the 2009 spring schedule this Saturday when they head up the road to Dedham, MA to take part in the 2009 Husky Spring Invitational hosted by Northeastern University.

This weekend's meet will serve a solid tune-up for the annual Bryant Invitational which will take place the following Saturday (Mar. 28) at the Bryant Track.  The Invitational will feature all track teams from the state of Rhode Island plus a host of several other schools from the region.

The Bulldogs head into the outdoor season following an impressive performance at the Northeast Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships and New England Championships which has second-year coach Stephanie Reilly looking forward to the program's first Division I outdoor season.

During the winter, Bryant set four indoor school records.  Junior Alex Engel (Spencer, MA) broke the school mark in the 500 meters with a time of 1:05.19.  Engel is also a part of the school record holding indoor 4x400 meter relay team from 2007.

Freshmen standouts John Mitton (North Reading, MA) eclipsed the 800 meter indoor record in 1:55.72 and classmate Drew Clarke (Hopkinton, MA) set the new indoor mile record at Bryant with a time of 4:16.83.

Senior Tom Casey (Cornwall, NY) is looking to close out his stellar career this spring after excellent performances in cross country in the fall and setting the new 5000 meter indoor school record this winter in a time of 15:06.79.

In the field events, watch for sophomore Andrew Fitzgerald (New Hartford, CT) to shine in the jumps this spring along with freshman Chris Brida (Southampton, MA).  Senior Steve Haskell (Bridgewater, MA) looks to lead the way in the throws.

On the women's side, the Bulldogs will be led by senior Justine Douvadjian (Andover, MA).  Douvadjian,  is coming off an excellent indoor season where she posted a season-best time in the 200 meters of 27.87 at the BU Invitational and ran a 1:01.98 in placing third at Rhode Island.  Junior Stephanie Kirk (Pompton Lakes, NJ) will look to lead the way in the sprints along with freshman Amy Hutchinson (Exeter, RI). Kirk had a best mark of 8.15 in the 55 meters indoors at Brown in December and posted a time of 29.82 in the 200m at URI.  She'll also compete in the hurdles while Hutchinson looks to score points for the Bulldogs in the jumps.

Sophomore Jennifer Denise (East Patchogue, NY), freshman Kat Ragone (Bourne, MA) and senior Casey Fenwick (Wayland, MA) highlight the middle distance events for the Bulldogs while Joanna Chanaj (Peabody, MA), Hutchinson and Melanie Farbotko (Brookline, NH) will compete in the high jump.