Three Rams Crowned GNAC Champions, Women’s Track Finishes Fifth

WESTON, Mass. – In the second-ever GNAC Outdoor Track & Field Championship this weekend, the Suffolk women's squad took home fifth place at the Regis Stadium, while three standout Rams' – Emily Manfra, Allison Rodrigues and Emma Weisse – each garnered individual GNAC Champion status.  

The trio of Suffolk student-athletes, who each were the top GNAC performer in their respective events, earned title of conference for the first time in their careers as well as spots on the all-league outdoor teams.  

Manfra coasted to a first-place finish in the 800-meter run. The junior from Stoneham, Massachusetts, clocked in at 2:20.59 to top the overall nine-runner field, finishing six seconds ahead of the second-place finisher, Katerina Salceo of SUNY Delhi (2:26.63), and nine seconds before the next conference competitor, Emmanuel's Hannah Fitzpatrick (2:29.41).  Manfra's time makes the Rams' runner the new conference championship record holder in the event as she upstaged Pearl Vercruysse's of Emmanuel's performance in the inaugural championships a year ago by nearly eight seconds.  

Weisse's 3000-meter steeplechase performance was one for the record books as the junior finished 33.19 seconds ahead of her six opponents. The junior, who calls Hampden, Massachusetts, home, crossed the finish line in 11:31.65, a conference championship record.  

In her first conference championship track & field event, Rodrigues made history as the first women's fielder to garner all-league status in the javelin. The rookie's 30.94-meter toss put her first overall in the field of 11 and set a new league championship record. Rodrigues also represented the Rams with second-place showing in the shot put (10.91 M) and third-place performance in the discus (32.47 M). 

The trio of Rams anchored Suffolk to a fifth-place performance in the GNAC standings with a team score of 75. Regis topped the league's standing for the second-straight season with a combined total of 175.  

Junior Mariama Kamara, who made history a year ago at the inaugural championship event as the first-ever Ram to grab GNAC Champion status, came up just short this season as the 100-meter runner-up. She upstaged her preliminary time of 12.84 in the finals by 0.11 with a personal championship-course record of 12.65, but it wouldn't be enough to take home GNAC glory once again, finishing 0.04 seconds behind Regis' Ratime St. Hilarie.  

Sophomore Dahkensey Marcellus also competed on the 100-meter course and claimed seventh in the field of 17 with a time of 13.74, a personal-best at the championships. The Brockton, Massachusetts product also made her conference championship 200-meter dash debut where her time of 29.51 put her in the middle of the 23-runner pack in 12th.

Natalie Fay also beat her time from last year's championship meet in the 1500-meter run. The sophomore from Chelmsford, Massachusetts, put together a 5:46.13 performance, 26 seconds better from last season's effort, to take seventh. 

The remaining Rams made their first-ever appearance at the league tournament including Olivia Chilcott and Skyler Spanbauer, who joined Fay in the 1500-meter run. Chilcott's time of 5:15.24 was good for third, while Spanbeaur claimed eighth with a time of 5:47.33.  

Megan Qualters competed in a pair of events; the 400-meter dash (7th; 1:07.60) and the pole vault (3rd; 2.60 M). Payton Dockus also participated in the pole vault (T4th, 2.15 M). 

In the hurdles, Julia Hunt ran the 100-meter (9th; 18.26) and Julianna Trost (7th; 1:19.93) went a full-time around the track (400 M).  

Savannah Hunter participated in both the shot put (10th; 8.64 M) and the discus throw (4th; 29.68 M).  

Lindsey O'Dea rounded out Suffolk's student-athletes with an fourth-place showing in the high jump after clearing 1.45 meters.  

Suffolk will now send those athletes that have qualified to Williamstown, Massachusetts, for the NCAA Division III New England Championships this upcoming weekend, May 4-6. 

NOTEWORTHY

• Emily Manfra, Allison Rodrigues and Emma Weisse each were GNAC Champions in their respective events to garner all-league honors in outdoor track & field for the first time in their careers. 
• Rodrigues is the first Suffolk women fielder and member of the freshman class to garner all-conference honors in program history. 
• Emily Manfra set a new GNAC Championship record in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:20.59, 7.50 seconds better than the former record holder Pearl Vercruysse of Emmanuel (2:28.43). 
• In her first-ever time competing in the 3000-meter Steeplechase at the GNAC Championship event, Emma Weisse put together a record-setting performance of 11:31.65, beating the previous record holder Meghan Glisson of Saint Joseph's (Maine)'s (14:26.5h) by 2:54.51. 
• Emma Weisse qualified for the NCAA Division III New England Championships in the Steeplechase. 
• Olivia Chilcott put together a personal-record performance in the 15000. 
• Allison Rodrigues tossed the javelin GNAC Championship record 30.94 M, displacing previous record holder Jacquelyn Schenider of Emmanuel (27.80 M). 
• Mariama Kamara put together a personal-best GNAC Championship performance together in the 100-meter dash. 
• Dahkensey Marcellus set a personal GNAC Championship record in the 100-meter dash. 
• Natalie Fay produced a GNAC Championship personal record in the 1500-meter run.  

2019 GNAC OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD WOMEN'S TEAM RESULTS 

1. Regis - 167
2. Emmanuel - 155
3. Colby Sawyer - 122
4. Saint Joseph's (Maine) - 107
5. Suffolk – 75
6. Lasell - 6