Posted: May 04, 2019

Bryant has historic first day at NEC Championship

NEW BRITAIN, CONN. – The Bryant University outdoor track and field team had a historic first day at the NEC Championships on Saturday. Day one marked the most medals that the men's team has ever taken home as well as the highest point total and the greatest amount of scoring performances that the men have ever posted during the first day of NECs.

The day was highlighted by the men's 4x800 relay team who broke the program record at Bryant. The relay team consisted of Jordan Dagrin (North Kingstown, R.I.), Christopher Wrenn (Norton, Mass.), William Bittrich (Duxbury, Mass.), and Jason Dolan (Westford, Mass.).

COACH SWITZER'S COMMENTS

"We had an incredibly strong showing on day one with 8 different scoring performances, two medals, a school record, four ECAC/IC4A qualifying marks, and eight new all-time top 10 marks. The team's performance put us in a great place for tomorrow with a huge group going into finals. We've got business to take care of, and with the energy this team has right now, I'm excited to see how it all pans out."

TEAM RESULTS (M)

Mount St. Mary's – 61
Central Connecticut – 57
Saint Francis U – 52
Sacred Heart – 39
Wagner – 30
Bryant – 18
Fairleigh Dickinson – 12
LIU Brooklyn – 2
St. Francis Brooklyn – 2

TEAM SCORES (W)

Saint Francis U – 60
Sacred Heart – 53.5
Robert Morris – 41
Central Connecticut – 39
Fairleigh Dickinson – 27
Mount St. Mary's – 21
Wagner – 16.5
LIU Brooklyn – 11
Bryant – 4

TOP MEN'S PERFORMERS

Freshman Andrew Canale (Lincroft, N.J.) qualified for the final heat in the 400-meter with a PR time of 48.26 which also qualifies him for IC4As. Canale also became an IC4A qualifier in the 200-meter posting a time of 21.81.
Senior Adam Winiarz (Norton, Mass.) posted a time of 11.26 making him a New England qualifier.
Dolan and Wrenn finished 1-2 during prelims of the 800-meter. Dolan finished with a top time of 1:54.00 while Wrenn trailed closely behind with a time of 1:54.33.
In the 1500-meter Dagrin, Bittrich, and Dolan will represent the Black and Gold tomorrow in the finals. Dagrin led the Bulldogs with a time of 3:59.99 followed by Bittrich with a PR of 4:00.22. Dolan trailed with a time of 4:00.46.
In the final heat of the 10,000-meter, Matt McGovern (Long Beach, N.Y.) and Noah Tellier (North Kingstown, R.I.) finished 7-8 to score for the Bulldogs. McGovern came in at seventh with a time of 33:35.44. Tellier finished eighth with a time of 33:38.63.
The 4x800 relay team of Dagrin, Wrenn, Bittrich, and Dolan earned a bronze medal posting a time of 7:43.23. The relay time also shatters the program record at Bryant.
In men's pole vault, Jacob Borgia (Westborough, Mass.) and Nicholas Curci (Jupiter, Fla.) finished 7-8 to bring in three total points for the Bulldogs. Both Bulldogs cleared a height of 4.15 meters.
Sophomore Chris Fasano (Lake Grove, N.Y.) brought home a bronze medal in shot put. Fasano posted a 15.78m mark qualifying him for IC4A.

TOP WOMEN'S PERFORMERS

Both Kathryn O'Connor (Windham, N.H.) and Ana Lucas (Wakefield, Mass.) set new PRs in the 100-meter. O'Connor finished with a time of 13.18 while Lucas posted a time of 13.41.
Junior Emily Cluck (Johnson City, N.Y.) qualified for ECACs and will move on to the final heat on Sunday in the 400-meter. Cluck posted a time of 56.11 placing her third overall in prelims.
The 4x800 relay team of Sarah Freeman (Merrimac, Mass.), Elizabeth Goyette (Lowell, Mass.), Kierstin Lock (Salem, N.H.), and Julia Ayres (Collegeville, Pa.) placed eighth overall earning points for the women's team. The Bulldogs finished with a time of 10:16.76.
Freshman Shileigh Martinez (North Kingstown, R.I.) also earned points for the Bulldogs finishing sixth with a 3.20-meter mark in pole vault.
In her NEC Championship debut, freshman Laura Rizik (Oradell, N.J.) set a new personal-best in hammer throw. The rookie threw 40.92 meters ranking 15^th overall.

UP NEXT
The Bulldogs return for day two of the NEC Championship tomorrow Sunday, May 5.