T&F competes in NEC Outdoor Championships this weekend

MEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP HEADQUARTERS | WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP HEADQUARTERS

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University track and field program competes in the 2017 Northeast Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Saturday and Sunday at Mount St. Mary's in Emmitsburg, Md.

The Bulldogs are primed for a historic weekend as both the men's and women's 4x800 relay teams head south with visions of taking home the first relay gold medals in outdoor program history. Bryant's women quartet of Emily McNeil (Shelton, Conn.), Melissa Lodge (Hopkinton, Mass.), Jacklyn Sullivan (Plymouth, Mass.) and Olivia Weiss (Newton, N.J.) are the top seeded relay with a seed time of 9:37.27.

On the men's side, the quartet of Milan Duka (Belgrade, Serbia), Richard Landry (Holyoke, Mass.), Ryan Poholek (Attleboro, Mass.) and Christopher Wrenn (Norton, Mass.) are second with a seed time of 8:05.72.

In addition to the relay teams, the Black and Gold could see several individuals score this weekend. Emily Cluck (Johnson City, N.Y.) is seeded fourth in the 100m and MiaLynne Park (Jewett City, Conn.) is seeded ninth in the 400m.

Distance-wise, freshmen teammates Sullivan and Weiss are seeded second and fourth in the 800. Sullivan recently broke the school record in the 800, one that had stood since 1987. Lodge is seeded second in the 1500 and fourth in the 5000, while McNeil is fifth in the 1500.

In the field events, Alexandra Watts (Clinton, Conn.) is seeded eighth in the pole vault. She is coming off a week in which she broke the pole vault record for the second time this year. Jonee Harrison (Dorchester, Mass.) will also look to shine after a silver-medal performance in the hammer during the indoor season. She is seeded fourth outdoor with a seed distance of 48.46m.

For the men, the 800 could be a chance to score major points. Landry is seeded seventh, Wrenn is seeded eighth and Brian Salit (Seekonk, Mass.) is seeded ninth.

Duka will compete in the 3000m steeplechase for the first time this year.

Benjamin Jackson (Enosburg Falls, Vt.) is seeded ninth in the hammer and 11th in the discus, while Charles Buress (Westborough, Mass.) is seeded fifth in the javelin.