Track & Field kicks off 2011 in style
SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University men's and women's track & field teams kicked off the 2011 spring outdoor season in style Tuesday afternoon hosting Providence College and Stony Brook.
The Bulldogs got several strong performances led by a solid first-place finish in the men's 1,500 meters as Ryan Busby (Derry, N.H.) edged James Snak of Stony Brook by just over three tenths of a second. Busby, a junior, crossed the line in a time of 4 minutes, 4.21 seconds, just beating Snak's time of 4:04.54.
Bryant had several runner-up finishers on the day with Scott Twardowski (Rehoboth, Mass.) taking second in the 3,000 meters in 8:49.26, Mike DiBella (Upper Saddle River, N.J.) in the 400 meters in 51.07, Joseph Pugliano (West Springfield, Mass.) in the 200 meters (23.05 seconds) and Michael Arons (West Hartford, Conn.) in the 100 meter dash in 11.56 seconds.
In the field events, freshman Peter Alie (Stoneham, Mass.) placed second in the high jump with a best mark of 5-feet, 10 inches while newcomer Nick Todman (Danbury, Conn.) earned a runner-up finish in the javelin throw with a best throw of 176-feet, 8 inches.
On the women's side, Sherika Nicholas (East Patchogue, N.Y.) had a big day for the Bulldogs as the senior captured first-place honors in the 100 meter dash in 13.20 seconds and followed with a strong second-place finish in the 200 meters in 26.97 seconds. Teammate Amanda Dilley (Bridgewater, Mass.) was seventh in the 100m (13.65) and also seventh in the 200m in a time of 28.35 seconds.
The women took home two first-place finishes in the field events thanks to a great performance from freshman Katelyn Kelleher (Wrentham, Mass.) who had the best shot put mark of the afternoon at 33 freet, 4.75 inches. Sophomore Allison Pavao (Swansea, Mass.) finished first in the javelin with a best mark of 120 feet, 6 inches to beat Stony Brook's Andrea Giannini who placed second at 119-10.
The Bulldogs will host the annual Bryant University Invitational with more than 15 schools scheduled to compete this Saturday at the Bryant University Track.