BOSTON, MA (December 8, 2024) – The Beacons' women's track and field team won three events outright and saw several personal career bests and collegiate debuts from Sunday's season opener at the TRACK at New Balance, as they initiated the 2024-25 campaign from their home track in dominant fashion.

• Sophomore Jhenelle Evans (Milton, Mass.) started the Beacs off hot in the 60m dash, as she opened her season on a high note with a career-best 8.06s to win the 60m dash outright. Evans also recorded a career-best in the women's long jump with a 4.26m leap.
• Junior Aryianna Garceau (Dalton, Mass.) begins her junior season winning both the 60m hurdles, and the 200m dash outright. In the 60m hurdles, Garceau took first overall with a career-best 8.79s, breaking her own previous school record of 8.90s set in February of 2024. Her 8.79s mark currently has her at second in the nation for the event in Division III. On top of the 60m hurdles, Garceau took first overall out of 20 competitors with a 25.47s finish, suitable for a new career-best and eighth in the nation for the event.
• The women's 4x200m relay team consisting of Evans, Elizabeth Roy (Abington, Mass.), Jania Cooper (Lynn, Mass.), and Senai Whigham (Stoughton, Mass.) took third out of five teams with a 1:52.8s finish to set the standard for meets going forward.
• Senior Mackenzie Jorgensen cleared 2.15m in the pole vault for third overall.
• Whigham finished first for the Beacs from the long jump runway as she opened her collegiate career with a 4.86m leap to lead the Beacons in today's opener.
• In the women's shotput, each of the three Beacons who entered registered personal bests, with junior Delaney Sartwell (East Bridgewater, Mass.) leading the Beacons' bomb squad with an 8.43m heave. First-year Isadora Teodoro Marques (Billerica, Mass.) finished next for the Beacons, with a collegiate career opening 8.16m toss, followed by junior Alessandra Albano (Haverhill, Mass.) with a personal-best of 7.19m.
• In the women's weight throw, junior Abigail Schell (Boston, Mass.) registered a personal best with a 9.54m toss to take eighth out of 14 competitors.

Coaches Corner:

"Our team meet was a resounding success." said Head Coach Ozzie Brown in reaction to the squad's performance. He added, "We had several unexpected yet promising developments. It provided a clear reflection of our current standing and process while also highlighting the potential for continued growth. As we look ahead to January, we are eager to build upon this strong foundation and maintain our upward trajectory!"

The Beacons continue to develop over the winter break during the holidays before picking up the spikes again for the Reggie Payou Invitational in Waltham, Massachusetts, on January 18^th for the first competition of the 2025 calendar year. Stay tuned for the meet preview and coverage for the event.

For all things UMass Boston Athletics, stay tuned at UMass Boston - Official Athletics Website.