Desmarais Wins 10,000m on Opening Day of NEC Track & Field Championships

The Central Connecticut State women's track and field team took the lead on the opening day of the NEC Track & Field Championships on Saturday in New Britain, CT. Maegan Desmarais opened the day with a win in the 10,000m before the Blue Devils closed the day with a program-record in the 4x800m relay.

NEC Championships | RESULTS
Location: CCSU Track & Field Facility | New Britain, CT

TRACK HIGHLIGHTS

• Maegan Desmarais opened the day for the Blue Devils with a win in the 10,000m run in a time of 36:20.04. Rebecca Carusone won bronze in 37:42.14, while Lillian Tabellione (39:29.27) placed fifth to score points in the event. Desmarais and Tabellione both clocked personal-bests, running the distance for the first time in their careers.
• The Blue Devils set a new program-record in the 4x800m relay. Sultana Ali, Riley Powers, Rachel Bartolucci and Mya Morabito won silver with a time of 9:07.22
• Alissa Hurd earned a spot in Sunday's final for the 100m hurdles with a time of 14.96.
• Four Blue Devils qualified for the 400m final tomorrow. Kyrah Smith (58.97) and Sultana Ali (59.38) were the top two finishers in their heat, while Kayla Logan (59.75) and Jessica Farrell (1:00.21) also booked a pot in Sunday's final.
• Nuchwara Inthasit cruised into the final in the 100m, posting the third-fastest qualifying time at 12.16.
• Rachel Bartolucci (2:17.42) and Mya Morabito (2:18.66) won their heats in the 800m prelims to qualify to run in Sunday's final. Bartolucci posted the fastest qualifying time.
• Alexandra Edwards earned a spot in the 400m finals by clocking a time of 1:07.86.
• Inthasit posted the fastest qualifying time in the 200m with a time of 25.09  to go to Sunday's final. Smith will also run in the final after clocking 25.66.

FIELD HIGHLIGHTS

• Ciara Adu-Addo narrowly missed the podium in the long jump, but placed fourth after leaping 5.56m on her final attempt.
• A pair of Blue Devils scored in the hammer throw with Marina Perry marking 46.05m on her first attempt to place sixth. Imani Cain placed seventh with a throw of 42.42m.
• Hurd earned silver in the high jump, clearing 1.65m.
• Marina Perry won bronze in the shot put with a best mark of 12.41m.

UP NEXT:

The second day of the NEC Championships begins Saturday at 8:30 a.m. with field events. The men's steeple opens track competition at 12:30 p.m.