Track Closes Out 2014 Season On High Note At Regis Pride Classic
Kerry O’Neil qualifies for NJCAA National Tournament
WESTON, Mass. ---- In the final track meet of the season, the Massasoit Community College track team placed three in the top 25, including a NJCAA National Tournament qualifying performance by Kerry O'Neil at the Regis Pride Classic on Sunday.
O'Neil, of Stoughton, finished in fourth place in the 5,000-meter run in a season-best time of 21:45.85, breaking her own school record. With that performance, O'Neil becomes the first-ever Massasoit track student-athlete to advance to the NJCAA National Tournament. The tournament is hosted by Mohawk Valley CC in Utica, N.Y., from May 9-11.
Beyond O'Neil's record setting outing, Jai Williams (Rockland) and Christarsha Young-Lemar (Brockton) placed 19th and 25th in their respective events.
Williams clocked a season-best effort of 19:42.01 in the 5,000-meter and Young-Lemar ran a 15.27 sprint in the 100-meter.
Massasoit had three other sprinters compete in the 100-meter dash on Sunday. On the men's side Kyle Henry (Easton) timed a personal-best 13.87 (26th) and Adam Blanchette finished 28th with a time of 14.37. Stephanie Villanueva placed 35th in the event for the women in a time of 17.24.
Henry competed in two events as he finished 35th in the 200-meter in 29.39.
Dewayne Hammonds (Brockton) and Williams both took part in the 1,500-meter run, with Hammonds finishing 26th (5:14.47) and Williams placing 29th (5:28.02).