Caruso Advances to Finals in Two Events, Hens Set New 4 x 800 Meter Relay Record at First Day of ECAC Indoor Championships
March 5, 2011
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File Photo Courtesy of Chris Permar
BOSTON -- University of Delaware sophomore sprinter Vicky Caruso (at right) qualified for the finals in two events and the 4 x 800 meter relay team established a new school record to highlight the first day of the Eastern College Athletic Conference Women’s Indoor Track & Field Championships Saturday at the Reggie Lewis Center.
Caruso placed fourth in the preliminaries of the 200 meter dash with a time of 24.25 and then anchored the 4 x 400 meter relay team to a fifth place finish in that event to advance to Sunday’s championships. Caruso will compete in the 200 meters final at 2:35 p.m. and then join the 4 x 400 meter relay team in that championship race at 3:10 p.m.
She was among nine Delaware athletes who competed in Saturday’s preliminaries.
Caruso placed fourth in the 200 meters with a time of 24.25, finishing fourth overall to advance to the finals where she placed seventh last season to earn All-East honors. Trisha-Ann Hawthorne of Connecticut had the best preliminary time at 23.98.
In the 4 x 400 meter relay, Caruso teamed with Nijah Dupiche, Kristi Cox, and Asia Hollis for a fifth place finish in the preliminaries with a time of 3:46.61, good for the fourth best time in school history. Connecticut had the top time with a clocking of 3:46.34.
Delaware had one record-setting performance on the day as the 4 x 800 meter relay team of Emily Gispert, Lindsay Prettyman, Jessica Olsen, and Rachel Wasserman ran to a time of 9:15.09. Although the team did not qualify for the finals with an 18th place finish, the tandem did break the UD record of 9:15.89 set by Christina Antonopoulos, Yianna Antonopoulos, Kellyn Wright, and current UD runner Karen Mandrachia in 2009. Princeton had the top preliminary time at 8:53.33.
Also for the Hens Saturday, Dupiche was 11th in the 400 meters with a time of 57.16, Cox was 18th in the 400 meters with a time of 57.68, and Alana Pantale posted an 18th place finish in the shot put with a toss of 42-feet, 3 1/4-inches.
George Mason freshman Daianna Barron had the top preliminary time in the 400 meters at 55.35 while Victoria Flowers of Connecticut had the top shot put toss with a heave of 52-3 3/4.
AGATE:
Delaware Competitors: 4th Place - Vicky Caruso, 200m (24.25- advanced to finals); 5th Place - 4 x 400m Relay (Vicky Caruso, Nijah Dupiche, Asia Hollis, Kristi Cox), 3:46.61 (advanced to finals); 11th Place - Nijah Dupiche, 400m (57.16); 16th Place- 4 x 800m Relay (Emily Gispert, Lindsay Prettyman, Jessica Olsen, Rachel Wasserman), 9:15.09 (school record); 18th Place - Kristi Cox, 400m (57.68); Alana Pantale, shot put (42-3 1/4).
