ECSU Women break relay record for second time

ECSU Sophomore Nikki Chambers (East Hampton) competed on both record-setting relays this year. ECSU photo.

By Bob Molta | ECSU Athletics

The Eastern Connecticut State University women’s 4×800 meter relay broke the program record for the second time this year at the New England Open Track & Field Championships Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013 at the Boston University Track and Tennis Center.

In a time of 9:48.40, the women’s 4×800 obliterated the record of 10:14.47 that it had set Dec. 8, 2012 at Coxe Cage at the Yale University Invitational.

Junior Katie France (Portland) and sophomore Nikki Chambers  (East Hampton) competed on both record-setting relays this year and were joined Saturday by senior Cora Gingras (Portland) and junior Akaya McElveen (New Haven).

Junior Fredrick Hewett (New London) ran to a ninth-place finish at 400 meters. Hewett bettered his personal record set a year ago at the Open with a time of 49.39 (1.19 seconds off program record) that left him just .35 seconds from reaching the finals.

In a field of 31 competitors, Hewett was the first first-Division III runner across the finish line.

Fredrick Hewett, Eastern CT State University men’s track and field. ECSU photo 2013

In his first time competing in an individual event at the Open, sophomore Dylan Kruppa (Torrington) set a personal record with a time of 1:06.63 in the 500 that gave him a 16th-place finish in a field of 30.

Running the event for only the second time, Kruppa was just .04 seconds off the program record set in the Open six years ago.

The Eastern men’s 4×400 relay was timed in 3:23.95, good enough for 22nd place in a field of 27. Running the relay were Hewett, Kruppa, sophomore D’Vonte Chambers (West Haven) and freshman John Boisette (East Hartford).

Kruppa, Hewett and both relays qualified for this coming weekend’s ECAC Division III Championships at the New Balance Track & Field Center in New York City.

Posted February 24, 2013

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