Bryant Invitational Sees Several First Place Finishes by the Bulldogs Saturday

BRYANT UNIVERSITY INVITATIONAL 2006

Complete Results   /  photo gallery

SMITHFIELD, RI -  The Bryant University men's and women's track & field teams officially opened the newly resurfaced track as well as new throwing areas with the annual Bryant Invitational Saturday afternoon.  While more than 20 teams battled through rain, sleet, and snow for much of the day, the Bulldogs turned in several first place finishes on the afternoon as well as solid marks for only the team's second meet of the season.

 Thrower Amber Torrey captured a pair of firsts in both the women's shot put and discus throw.  She captured first in the shot put with a mark of 32 feet, 8 1/2 inches to edge CW Post's Amy Ferreira (30-5) for first.  

Later, Torrey would take first in the discus with a mark of 99 feet, 6 inches.  Rachel Martinich was sixth in the shot (27-10.25) and teammate Heather Clay took 8th in the discus throw (80-5).

Torrey would also add a strong fourth-place finish in the women's hammer throw with a mark of 119-10.

Bryant's men's throwers also excelled, thanks in part to a pair of first place finishes by Mike Nessralla.  Nessralla, a senior, took first in the shot put with a mark of 42 feet, 10 1/4 inches while Steve Haskell was fourth in the event at 36-5.5.  Nessralla would also capture top honors in the men's discus throw with a season-best throw of 146 feet, 6 inches.  Nessralla holds Bryant's record in the discus at 149-3 set in 2004.

 Jeff Hedberg took second-place in the men's high jump by clearing 5 feet, 10 inches.

In the running events,  sophomore Hafiz Greigre took first in the men's 100 meters in a time of 10.98 seconds, just shy of last week's hand-timed mark of 10.94 set at RIC.  Mike Lipka was 10th in the 100m in 12.52 seconds.

Justin Getts had a fine race in the men's 800 meters, taking second place overall in a personal-best time of 2 minutes, 1.85 seconds, just behind Chris Hopkins of Southern Maine who was first in 1:59.99.

Joe Brennan of East Providence took seventh in the men's 400 meter dash in 53.06 seconds while Caleb Paul took third overall in the men's 5,000 meters in a time of 15 minutes, 46.89 seconds. 

The women were led by Natasha Stevenson who placed second in the women's 100 meter dash in 12.96 seconds while Amanda Early was 10th in the 100m in 14.21.  Jen Goodwin captured first in the women's 10,000 meters in 41 minutes, 46.24 seconds while Lindsey Tunak took fifth in the 5,000 meters in 21:28.35. 

Nicole Radzik was second overall in the 3,000 meter steeplechase in a school-record time of 12 minutes, 13.57 seconds. 

Due to the wet - and cold - conditions, several events were cancelled, including the men's and women's pole vault.