DARTMOUTH, Mass. – After opening their outdoor season indoors on March 25 due to winter weather and unsafe facilities and having this past Saturday's original meet cancelled, the Eastern Connecticut State University men's and women's outdoor track & field teams finally made their official outdoor debut Sunday with strong performances at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Corsair Classic.

With one individual and one relay winning their respective events and generating ten points each, the Warriors captured sixth place in a field of 14 competing teams with 57 ½ points.

Track Highlights           

The 4x100 relay – comprised of three freshmen and a sophomore -- was first at the finish line in a time of 51.23. In a photo finish, Eastern edged Westfield State University (51.50) at the tape in a field of seven relays. Eastern runners included freshmen Savannah Johnson (Ledyard) and Ahriyan Brown (New Britain), sophomore Fanta Faro (New Haven), and freshman Hayley Brodeur (Old Saybrook).

In addition to the relay, Brown collected nine points in two individual events. Among six freshmen first through the tape, Brown was clocked in 13.09 to take third place in a field of 39 in the 100 and was sixth in a field of 35 with a time of 26.72 in the 200.

Former high school cross-town rivals Haley Knox (Bristol/Bristol Central) and Mariah McPhee (Bristol/Bristol Eastern) placed among the leaders in a field of 35 at 800 meters. Knox was second (2:25.47) and McPhee eighth (2:33.48). McPhee complemented her 800 finish by taking sixth of 43 in the 1,500 (5:10.46).

Brodeur excelled in two sprint events, placing fifth among 59 at 200 meters (26.66) and eighth in a field of 39 in the 100 (13.16).

Field Highlights             

Sophomore Brianna Starkey (Columbia) was awarded first place in a field of eight competitors with a height of 9-6 ¼ (2.90m). Starkey was the only Eastern male or female individual to collected ten points in the meet.