EMMANUEL ATHLETES SET 4 PROGRAM RECORDS, 6 QUALIFYING TIMES

March 26, 2011

WESTFIELD, Mass. - Westfield State College played host to the Gerry Gravel Classic on Saturday, in which the Emmanuel College Men's and Women's Track & Field programs competed, furthering their season's successes. Even on this cold and windy day, there were 4 program records that fell, 5 New England Division III Championship qualifying times, and already an Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Championship qualifying time. The women's team placed 10th out of 21 teams, and the men finished in 11th out of 16.

Junior sprinter Katasi Kulubya (Anaheim, Calif.) had herself another impressive day. She placed 4th in the 400 meters with a time of 61.59, fast enough to secure herself another trip to the NE D-III Championships, as well as 3rd place in the 200 meters with a time of 27.40. After missing the qualifying mark by two tenths of a second, Kulubya will be looking to come out of the blocks even stronger next week.

Sophomore Julie Young (Derry, N.H.) competed in the 800 meters, setting a new personal best in her 9th place finish of 2:30.47. Classmate Shannon McCabe (Charlestown, R.I.) competed in the 100 meter hurdles, securing 7th place overall with a time of 17.51.

For the men's program, Ben Cleveland (Auburn, Maine) competed in the 400 meters and the 4x400 meter relay. He placed 5th overall in the 400 meters finishing in 50.44, a NE D-III Championship qualifying time. In the 4x400 meter relay, Cleveland anchored the team of Andrew Heath (Stamford, Conn.), Nathan Bruno (Lenox, Mass.), and Eric Donnelly (Halifax, Mass.). The four won the event, coming in at 3:26.36, a school record, and another NE D-III Championship time for Cleveland, and a first for the rest of the relay team.

Abdi Ibrahim (East Boston, Mass.) continued his success last weekend in the 1500 meters. He finished in 7th place with a time of 4:10.85, shattering a school record. In the field, Kelly Ulf (Lunenburg, Mass.) placed in both the triple jump and the high jump. She jumped to a 7th place finish in the triple jump with a distance 30'4.75", and cleared 4'11.75" for a 5th place finish in the high jump, also good enough for a NE D-III Championship height. Gregory Brown (Norton, Mass.) improved his distance in the hammer throw this week to 93'8", over twenty feet farther in a week, passing a school record, Brown's first program record.

Next Saturday (4/2), the Saints will travel to Fitchburg State University for the Sheehan Memorial Invitational. The meet will begin at 10 a.m.