The Boston University women’s track team settled for third place in a quad meet hosted at the BU Track and Tennis Center on Tuesday. The Terriers finished with 58 points, behind Big East power Boston College (101 points) and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst (64). Sacred Heart University brought up the rear with 30 points.
BU’s performance was most impressive in the distance races, as the Terriers hogged three of the top four spots in the 3,000-meter run. Sophomore Jessica Iannacci took first, crossing the line one second over 10 minutes flat. Marissa Ryan and Victoria Bottecelli followed in second and fourth, respectively.
Three Terrier distance women also placed in the 800-meter event, stealing second, fourth and fifth place.
“The girls are really trying. The more they train, the better they will become,” said distance coach Bruce Lehane, who also discussed the team’s promise despite severe losses to graduation.
Still, Lehane was realistic, as this year’s Terrier squad must compete without many of last year’s standouts, most notably Lauren Warman and Sherida Bird.
“This is a rebuilding year, for the most part,” Lehane admitted.
Despite that fact, four BU women, in addition to Iannacci, led their events Tuesday.
Sophomore Erin Cadden bounded to the top spot in the 55-meter hurdles in just 8.56 seconds, while classmate Apryl Holder won the 400-meter run with a time of 1:02.15.
The other BU blue ribbons went to freshman Abbey Sadowski in the 1,000 meters and senior captain Mary Ellen Bingham in the triple jump.
In perhaps track and field’s most exciting event – the 4×400 relay – the BC quartet edged the Terrier group by just over a second.
A pair of non-BU athletes stole the show on Ashford Street, as Massachusetts’ Christina Huff won both the 200-meter dash and the 55-meter sprint. BC’s Kasey Hill proved her versatility even more, finishing second in both the 55-meters and the 55-meter hurdles while winning the long jump.
The next challenge for the Terrier women is the Terrier Classic, held at the Track and Tennis Center on Jan. 30 and 31. Approximately 2,000 athletes will fill the arena for the high-profile gathering.