Women's Track Takes Home Sixth Overall At Division III New England Championships
Springfield, MA --- Highlighted by Alyssa Jasper and Christy Deininger, eight WSU student-athletes and two relay teams earned All-New England honors as the Worcester State women's placed sixth at the Division III New England Championships. Sophomore Dalena Le and senior Megan Taylor had great performances in the 400 meter hurdles.
Women's Outdoor Track Ranked Ninth In USTFCCCA New England Regional Index
Springfield, MA --- Junior Alyssa Jasper (Rockland, MA) tallied a meet record 4,741 points in the heptathlon as she won the heptathlon and helped lead Worcester State to sixth place overall on the final day of the Division III New England Championships.
MIT claimed first at the meet with 132 points while the Lancers were just behind Middlebury (47) and Bates (45) in the standings with 42. WSU was the highest scoring public institution at the outdoor meet for the third consecutive season.
Jasper eclipsed the previous heptathlon mark of former Bridgewater State standout Rachel Smith who had established the record of 4,581 points in 2006.
Her outstanding day included top throw in the javelin (135-4/41.26m), second in the 800 (2:30.93) and third in the long jump (16-6.50/5.04m) as she is now ranked seventh in the NCAA Division III in the latest standings.
Senior Christy Deininger (N. Attleboro, MA) also had a strong performance in the 100 meter hurdles as she placed second with a split of 14.46 which equaled her own school record from last season in the trials of the NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships for All-New England accolades.
The 4x100 meter relay team of junior Liz Bodensieck (Raynham, MA), classmate Brittany Hodgerney (Leicester, MA), Jasper as the third leg and Deininger as the anchor finished fourth (48.01) to tie for the 14th best time in the nation.
Deinigner wrapped up her meet with eighth for an All-New England certificate in the 100 (12.96) as her 100 meter hurdle time is 12th nationally.
For their respective efforts this week, Deininger and Jasper were recognized as the MASCAC Track and Field Athletes of the Week.
Other All-New England performances included sophomore Dalena Le (Worcester, MA/Doherty) and senior Megan Taylor (Danvers, MA) who both notched seventh (1:05.92) and eighth (1:06.92), respectively in the 400 meter hurdles.
Sophomore Hanna Carson (Bondsville, MA) had a personal-best toss of seventh in the shot put (38-2/11.63m).
Taylor, Le, sophomore Emily Riehl (Trumbull, CT) and junior Alexandria McMahon (E. Longmeadow, MA) teamed up in the 4x400 meter relay for eighth overall (4:02.98).
In the field, senior Hannah Werneth (N. Yarmouth, ME) finished 10th in the shot put (37-1/11.30m) and 11th in the discus (113-10/34.71m) as sophomore Francesca Casasanta (Hopkinton, MA) tied for 18th with freshman Erin McIntyre (Whitinsville, MA) in the high jump before marking up 18th in the triple jump (34-2.25/10.42m).
Hodgerney also sprinted to 11th in the 200 (25.63) and she tied for 17th in the 100 (12.73) while Riehl placed 16th in the 400 (1:00.31).
Second-year Maddison Benson (Attleboro, MA) added 29th in the 100 meter hurdles (16.71).
Selected Lancers will compete again next week at the Open New England Championships hosted by Westfield State.
From Friday: "Jasper Crowned Division III New England Javelin Champion"
Springfield, MA --- Junior Alyssa Jasper (Rockland, MA) defended her title in the javelin with a first place toss of 143-11 (43.88 meters) as she helped lead Worcester State on the first day of the Women's Division III New England Championships hosted by Springfield.
After the first day of competition, the Lancers are in second place with 12 points, just 18 off of MIT's top sum.
Jasper led the field after the trials with a heave of 135-10.25 (41.41m), but then on the final flight, junior Tilly Taylor (S. Deerfield, MA) of MIT chalked up 137-5 (41.88m) on her final throw. Jasper then saved her best for last and beat out Taylor with the fifth-longest throw in the NCAA Division III this season.
In the heptathlon, Jasper currently leads the field after four events with 2,799 points. She won the 100 meter hurdles (15.22), the shot put (37-11.25/11.56m) while she came in second in the 200 (26.07) and notched fifth in the high jump (4-9/1.45m).
Junior Amanda Caldarone (Danvers, MA) also notched All-New England accolades in the long jump for the second-straight year with sixth place (17-2.25/5.24m).
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