oSpringfield, Mass. – January 20, 2024 – For the second time this season, the Springfield College women's track and field team finished first in a home meet as the Pride posted 208 points in today's Massasoit Classic.

The Pride defeated NEWMAC rival Wheaton (157 points), Bridgewater State (115), Westfield State (81.50), Worcester State (53.50) and Hampshire College (10).

First-year Katherine DeFosse (Worcester, Mass.) broke the program record in the 60-meter hurdles this afternoon as she placed second in the event with a finals time of 9.17-seconds after she posted a 9.04 in her preliminary heat.  The previous record of 9.22 was held by both Kelly Curtis (2012) and Emily LaPlante (2020). 

Springfield tallied wins in three events on the track as junior Maddie Shea (Amherst, Mass.) crossed the line first in the mile in 5:28.40, sophomore Kristina Kyle (Watertown, Conn.) finished first in the 1000-meter run in 3:11.90 and senior Taylor Gibson (Billerica, Mass.) won the 600-meter dash in 1:49.84. Shea went on to finish runner-up in the 800-meter run in 2:35.05. 

The Pride also registered four other runner-up placements on the track as senior Valerie Fox (Danbury, Conn.) took second in the 5,000-meter run in 20:56.43, senior Allie Ritchie (Orangeburh, N.Y.) took second in the 600-meter dash in 1:51.73 and senior Sophie Curcio (New Canaan, Conn.) placed second in the 3,000-meter run in 11:24.54.

Seniors Stephanie Brown (Stafford Springs, Conn.), Maggie Donohue (East Hampton, Conn.), Gwen Andersen (Pawcatuck, Conn.) and junior Julia Brillo (Ludlow, Mass.) combined for a runner-up finish in the 4x400-meter relay in 4:21.41.

In the field events, junior Samantha Paul (Albany, N.Y.) was the lone victor for the Pride as she placed first in the triple jump with a best mark of 11.03-meters (36 feet, 2.25 inches). Junior Ella Smith (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) took second place in the pole vault with a best clearance of 2.80-meters (9 feet, 2.25 inches).

Senior Kate Bonanno (Ellington, Conn.) earned a pair of third place finishes in her running events as she clocked times of 2:40.47 in the 800-meter run and 5:36.20 in the mile. Andersen took third in the 200-meter dash in 27.30-seconds, Donahue took third in the 400-meter dash in 1:03.32, first-year Kaleigh Jensen (East Lyme, Conn.) finished third in the 1000-meter run in 3:24.11 and sophomore Meghan Sullivan (Easthampton, Mass.) posted a third place finish in the 5,000-meter run in 21:12.26.

Springfield will travel to Boston next weekend for the two-day John Thomas Terrier Classic which will be held at Boston University beginning on Friday the 26th.

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Current NCAA Division III Top 25 Rankings (As of Sunday Jan. 21
60m Hurdles	Katherine DeFosse	19th	9.04
Triple Jump	Samantha Paul	11th	11.50m (37-8.75)