VARCA BREAKS PROGRAM RECORD AT JAY CARISELLA INVITATIONAL

BOSTON, Mass. – Junior middle distance runner Nicole Varca (Wethersfield, Conn.) set a new Emmanuel College Women's Indoor Track & Field program record this weekend at the 2016 Jay Carisella Invitational hosted by Northeastern University at the Reggie Lewis Center. Varca set a new record in the 1,000m race, clocking in a time of 3:14.41, besting the former time of 3:17.44 set by Meaghan Mauer ('14) in 2014.

Varca's record-setting time was the top finish among Division III participants and she finished seventh overall behind six Division I or II racers.

It was also a great race for the Saints 4 x 800 meter relay team as the women qualified for the New England Division III Championship with a time of 10:34.59. Varca ran the first leg of the relay in 2:37.95 followed by a second leg of 2:35.15 by sophomore Reilly Boyle (Wells, Maine). Sophomore Mimi Duncan (Portsmouth, N.H.) posted a 2:47.75 800m in the third leg before sophomore Jordyn Gonsor (Springfield, Mass.) closed strong with a time of 2:33.74 in the final leg.

Gonsor ran well in the 500m race with a time of 1:22.67 while Jacquelyn Schneider (Weymouth, Mass.) and Angela Brocco (Levittown, N.Y.) both posted personal bests in the 800m event. Freshman sprinter Kaitlyn Killion (Bellingham, Mass.) also recorded a PR time in the 200m race.

More PR's on the women's side included a 5:45.63 mile time by Duncan as well as a 6:01.33 mile from Katherine Holmberg (North Easton, Mass.). Boyle also ran a personal best in the 1,000 m race with a time of 3:22.06 which currently ranks fourth all-time among EC female runners in the event. Freshman Allie Gorrill (Whitefield, Maine) was just a few seconds behind her at 3:26.48 for a PR as well.

On the men's side, junior Francisco Tavares (Boston, Mass.) ran a sub 52-second 400 meter, clocking in at 51.47 seconds and nearly qualifying for the NCAA D-III regional championship. Sophomore Jaxell Negron (Lawrence, Mass.) posted a PR in the 60m race while middle distance runners Erik Brobst (Freeport, Maine), Justin Scott (Woburn, Mass.), and Brandon Fitzpatrick (Tewksbury, Mass.) all posted new personal bests in the 1 mile while Brobst leading the pack with a 4:52.71 race.

In the 500m race, sophomore Jake Zannoni (Merrimack, N.H.) and freshman Philipp Malm (Worcester, Mass.) each posted new personal bests with times of 1:12.94 and 1:14.21, respectively.

Other PR's for the men included 3K race times from senior Ian Chamenko (Beacon Falls, Conn.) and Carty who both ran well in the event. Chamenko crossed the finish line at 9:14.99 while Carty finished at 9:23.25.  Freshman Desmond Maynard (Jamaica Plain, Mass.) and sophomore Daniel LaChance (Raynham, Mass.) also recorded PR's in the 200 m race for Emmanuel.

The Saints are now idle until January 14, 2017 when they return from the winter break to compete at the Tufts Invitational in Medford, Mass.