February 28, 2010

INDOOR TRACK WRAPS UP SUCCESSFUL NEW ENGLANDS; ENGEL SETS RECORD

February 27, 2010

INDOOR TRACK WRAPS UP SUCCESSFUL NEW ENGLAND CHAMPIONSHIPS

The men's 4x400 meter relay team of Thomas O'Connor, Joe Pugliano, Michael DiBella and Alex Engel placed fourth Saturday at the New England Championships and just missed setting a new school record. Also pictured are coach Stephanie Reilly and Assistant Joel Brown. Engel (117) had a huge day Saturday, setting a new school record in the 400m.

BOSTON - The Bryant University men's and women's indoor track & field teams wrapped up the indoor season in style with another outstanding performance at the New England Championships at Boston University this weekend.

The men finished 20th overall out of 33 teams competing, thanks in part to the outstanding performance Saturday by standout Alex Engel (Spencer, Mass.). The senior sprinter placed second in the men's 400 meters and shattered the school record with a great time of 48.09 seconds. Engel narrowly picked up the record in the prelims with a second place finish earlier, but had one of the best races in his Bulldog career Saturday night.

But Engel wasn't through just yet as the Bulldog helped anchor the men's 4x400 meter relay squad to a fourth-place finish. The relay team of Michael DiBella (Upper Saddle River, N.J.), Joseph Pugliano (West Springfield, Mass.), Thomas O'Connor (Westwood, Mass.) and Engel, crossed the line in 3:18.41, just shy of the school record the group set last year.

On the women's side, freshman standout Megan Robertson (Sewell, N.J.) placed 16th in the 3000 meters in a new personal-best time of 10:30.94.

The Bulldogs will look to carry the momentum into the outdoor season that kicks off March 30 with the Bryant Quad Meet.