Dave Geringer                                            Athletic Department            (508) 990-9651

Sports Information Director                     Tripp Athletic Center           sportsinfo@umassd.edu

CORSAIRS SHINE AT NEW ENGLAND DIVISION III INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS 
                                                                             Saturday, February 18, 2006

CAMBRIDGE, MA-A few members of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth’s indoor track and field team performed well at the New England Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships.

Junior Jon Garcia (Stoneham, MA/Stoneham HS) won the 55-meter hurdles with a time of 7.63 seconds at the men’s meet, at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Shobrys and Aronson Track. It was the second year in a row that Garcia has won the 55 m hurdles.

Freshman Jimmy Knuuttila (Lunenburg, MA/Lunenburg HS) was 21^st at 55 meters in 6.89 seconds, while Jordan Wright was 11^th in the triple jump (42-5 ½) and 18^th in the long jump (19-4 ½). The meet is only open to student-athletes who have achieved qualifying marks during the season.

Sophomore Katie Malloy (Agawam, MA/Agawam HS) finished fifth in the high jump at 5-1 ¾, sophomore Leanne Nygaard (Medway, MA/Medway HS) was 20^th at 1000 meters in 3:12.60, and freshman Teresa McGrath (Saugus, MA/Saugus HS) was ninth in the shot put (36-8 ½) and 16^th in the weight throw (40 feet). The women’s meet took place at the Gantcher Family Sports and Convocation Center at Tufts.

“Katie had an exceptional day,” said UMass Dartmouth Assistant Coach Deon Barrett, who accompanied the women to Tufts. “She narrowly missed the next height (5-4), she just clipped it with her heel. Leanne ran great, she was really competitive, and Theresa really hung in there and had a great effort.”

“Jon Garcia did very well,” said Corsair Head Coach Jon Hird, who took the men to MIT. “It’s the second year in a row that Jon has won that event. The rest of our people put a lot into the conference meet on Monday.”

Malloy scored the only points for the UMD women, whose four points placed them 22^nd in the 28-team field. The men scored 10 points and were 20^th of 30 teams.

The Corsairs will return to action at New England Championships next weekend at Boston University.

UMASS DARTMOUTH TRACK AND FIELD