Fouda All-Region Nod Leads Blue T&F at New Englands

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- Sophomore Priyanka Fouda earned All-Region honors as the Wellesley College track and field team sent 10 competitors to the 2014 New England Division III Championships, hosted by Springfield College.

Fouda finished fourth overall in the 5,000-meter event. She shaved over 15 seconds off of her seed time to record a 17:45.28, earning her first career outdoor All-Region award.

Wellesley sophomore Sharon Ng and first-year Isabella Narvaez also recorded top-10 performances for the Blue. Ng ran a 2:18.21 to finish ninth overall in the 800-meters, while Narvaez was ninth in the 400-meter dash in 58.83. Both missed All-Region spots by just one place.

The Blue had a pair of top-15 finishers in the 300-meter steeplechase, in sophomore Alessandra Gavin and junior Nicole Chui. Gavin finished in 12th place overall, recording a 11:53.60, while Chui was 13th in a time of 11:59.48. Also nabbing a top-15 finish for Wellesley as first-year Mary Keenan who took 13th place (18:19.47) in the 5,000-meter run. 

Sophomore Caitlin Bailey and junior Kendra Waters each had top-10 finishes in 400-meter events. Bailey ranked 17th overall in the 400-hurdles, recording a 1:08.32, while Waters finished 18th in the 400m, with a time of 1:00.43.

Wrapping up the individual highlights for Wellesley, Narvaez ranked 20th in the 200-meter dash (26.37), senior Ali Grzywna was 20th in the 10,000 (42.21.02), and senior DOris Berman was 28th in the 5,000 (18:47.23).

In relay action, Wellesley's 4x100m team narrowly missed a top-10 finish at the event, as the Blue combined to rank 11th overall. Senior Sheena Dupuy, Narvaez, junior Kathleen Hanlon, and Waters, teamed up for a time of 50.17, a new Wellesley record. 

Wellesley track and field will continue its New England slate next weekend, with qualified athletes competing at the Open New England Championships. The event is being hosted by Westfield State.