University of Connecticut Athletics
Huskies Begin Season at Brown Invitational
12/7/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track and Field
BOSTON, MA (Dec. 7) - The University of Connecticut women’s track and field team placed in the top three in eight of 18 events at the Brown University Alden Invitational on Saturday, claiming six first-place finishes. The highlight of the afternoon for the Huskies was All-American Deirdre Mullen's (Princeton, NJ) high jump of 5-10, a qualifying jump for the Nationals, which also earned her the Outstanding Performer award at the Invitational.
Veteran athletes led the way for their rookie counterparts as the Huskies made an impressive showing at their first indoor meet of the season. Amy Parkosewich (Bethlehem, CT) took first in the weight throw and second in the shot put as freshman Sarah Thayer (Wakefield, RI) placed seventh and 10th in those events, respectively. Andrea Gourdine (Penfield, NY) and Caitlyn Brady (Englewood, CO) led the horizontal jumping events. The duo took first and third in the triple jump and second and fifth in the long jump, followed by rookie Francesca Kersenbrock (Lake Mary, FL), who placed seventh in both events.
Newcomer Leah Williams (Brookfield, CT) led the squad in the pole vault, placing fourth, with Michelle Beamon (Peabody, MA) taking sixth. All-American high-jumper Mullen took first in the event, with a height of 5-10, which was 6.25 inches higher than the second place jumper. Kersenbrock followed in sixth place.
The highest finisher in the 55 meter dash was Donalda Boiteux (West Haven, CT), taking ninth, but then claimed fourth place in the 200 meter dash. Renee Barnes (Newport, NH) took seventh in the 400 meter dash, while Nicola Hines (Bridgeport, CT) claimed the Huskies’ fourth first place finish, leading the 500 meter dash. Freshman Kourtney Trainor (Braintree, MA) took first in the 800 meter run, followed by Breanne Lucey (Keene, NH) in fifth. Geraldine Napoleone (Norwalk, CT) took fourth in the 100 meter run, while Erin Sales (Windsor Locks, CT) and Melanie Murphy (Newtown, CT) finished 10th and 12th in the 300 meter dash, respectively. The Huskies finished up the afternoon with a first place run in the 4x800 meter relay.
The women’s track team returns to action on January 18, 2003 when they will compete at the West Point Invitational at 1 p.m. in West Point, NY.
UConn Finishers:
Weight Throw
1. Amy Parkosewich 51-02.25
7. Sarah Thayer 43-02.25
Triple Jump
1. Andrea Gourdine 37-06.75
3. Caitlyn Brady 36-07.00
7. Francesca Kersenbrock 34-01.25
10. Gizele Richards 33-00.25
Shot Put
2. Amy Parkosewich 41-11.50
10. Sarah Thayer 33-00.25
Long Jump
2. Andrea Gourdine 16-11.25
5. Caitlyn Brady 16-04.50
7. Francesca Kersenbrock 16-00.25
8. Sharmaine Abrams 15-07.50
10. Gizele Richards 15-00.00
Pole Vault
4. Leah Williams 10-06.00
6. Michelle Beamon 10-00.00
High Jump
1. Deirdre Mullen 5-10.00
6. Francesca Kersenbrock 5-01.75
55 Meter Dash
9. Donalda Boiteux 7.72
400 Meter Dash
7. Renee Barnes 1:02.71
500 Meter Dash
1. Nicola Hines 1:17.65
10. Erin Sales 1:23.87
11. Christine Goetter 1:23.97
16. Melani Murphy 1:28.10
800 Meter Run
1. Kourtney Trainor 2:20.52
5. Breanne Lucey 2:24.93
6. Laura Bregan 2:30.48
1000 Meter Run
4. Geraldine Napoleone 3:33.41
200 Meter Dash
4. Donalda Boiteux 26.99
7. Renee Barnes 27.53
300 Meter Dash
10. Erin Sales 46.23
12. Melanie Murphy 46.72
4x800 Meter Relay
1. UConn 9:58.18
