BOSTON, MA & STATEN ISLAND, NY - The Iona University women's indoor track team competed in two cities on Friday and Saturday, at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational in Boston and the Fastrack National Invitational in Staten Island. Five different runners posted a sub-10 minute time in the 3,000-meter event over two races at BU, a feat accomplished by just three Iona women last season and 32 separate Iona women prior to this weekend.
DAVID HEMERY VALENTINE INVITATIONAL
WOMEN'S 3,000-METER RUN
In the seeded race at Boston University, sophomore
Holly Smith posted a personal best time of 9:28.30. It was the seventh fastest time in school history and ECAC qualifying. She was 61st overall. Freshman
Tayla Gunton also joined the sub-10 club, placing 138th in 9:52.99, also with a personal best and ECAC qualifying time. Junior
Madison Klein ran under 10 minutes for the second time in her career in 150th place in 9:57.40.
The list of Gaels with a faster time than Smith in program history includes former greats Kate Avery (8:53.12), Egle Morenaite (9:12.58), Salome Kosgei (9:16.72), Gemma Nuttall (9:23.70), Maya Rehberg (9:24.51) and Tara Jameson (9:25.95).
WOMEN'S 3,000-METER UNSEEDED RUN
In the unseeded race, freshman
Lily Overton finished fifth overall with an ECAC qualifying time of 9:49.31. Freshman
Claragh Keane also qualified for the ECAC Championships with a 12th place performance in 9:53.18. Juniors
Kate Tugman (68th, 10:16.2) and
Cosmina Spiridon (91st, 10:37.1) also competed in the race.
FASTRACK NATIONAL INVITATIONAL
WOMEN'S 400-METER RUN
Freshman
Lauren Sonski was Iona's top performer in Staten Island, posting a 1:01.0 in the 400-meter event, good for 33rd overall. It was a personal best time for the rookie and the top time for the Gaels in the event this indoor season. Sophomore
Nadine Jefremow was 57th overall in 1:03.0.
WOMEN'S 800-METER RUN
Junior
Megan Sterbenz finished 17th in the 800-meter event posting a 2:20.0. It was both her third fastest time of the season personally and third fastest in the 800 for the Gaels. Juniors
Katie Menard (24th, 2:21.1) and junior
Jamie Gudyka (40th, 2:24.3) also competed.
IONA PERFORMERS
David Hemery Valentine Invitational
3k: Holly Smith, 61st, 9:28.30;
Tayla Gunton, 138th, 9:52.99;
Madison Klein, 150th, 9:57.40.
3k unseeded:
Lily Overton, 5th, 9:49.31;
Claragh Keane, 12th, 9:53.18;
Kate Tugman, 68th, 10:16.2;
Cosmina Spiridon, 91st, 10:37.1.
Fastrack National Invitational
60:
Tonian Fullerton, 44th, 8.38.
200:
Tonian Fullerton, 46th, 27.19;
Lauren Sonski, 49th, 27.26;
Nadine Jefremow, 62nd, 27.69.
400:
Lauren Sonski, 33rd, 1:01.0;
Nadine Jefremow, 57th, 1:03.0.
800:
Megan Sterbenz, 17th, 2:20.0;
Katie Menard, 24th, 2:21.1;
Jamie Gudyka, 40th, 2:24.3.
Mile:
McKenna Arguien, 27th, 5:16.30.
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