Providence Track and Field Excite At Day Two Of BIG EAST Championships

Junior Hayden McLaren and Sophomore David McCarthy dominate the competition enroute to BIG EAST individual titles; Senior Danette Doetzel becomes BIG EAST champion in 3,000 meter race.

Danette Doetzel (Macklin, Sask.) was victorious in the 3,000 meter race.

Feb. 22, 2009

NEW YORK, N.Y. - The Men and Women Indoor Track squads returned to action once again, at day two of the BIG EAST Championships, on Sunday February 22, 2009 at The Armory in New York City, N.Y. The men posted individual victories in both the 1,000 meters and 3,000 meters. While the women were led by senior Danette Doetzel (Macklin, Sask.), who was victorious in the 3,000 meter event.

Day two of the BIG EAST Championships featured junior Hayden McLaren (Christchurch, New Zealand), who got off to a good start, claiming the honor of BIG EAST 1,000 meter champion. McLaren led the race from start to finish, crossing the line with a final time of 2:22.05. Freshman Dominic Channon (Nelson, New Zealand) stepped to the line for the final in the men's mile race. The race was slow and tactical, but Channon hung with the leaders, finishing fourth in a time of 4:08.20.

In the mile on the women's side, freshman Hannah Davidson (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) placed eighth in a time of 4:53.67 and teammate Emma Perron (West Hartford, Conn.) was ninth in a time of (4:57.28). In the 3,000 meters, senior Danette Doetzel came out on top, claiming her second BIG EAST individual title. After finishing second in the 5,000 meters the night before to Villanova senior Frances Koons, Doetzel fought back by securing victory over Koons in an NCAA-automatic time of 9:13.12. Teammate junior Krystal Douglas (Harpswell, Maine) placed fourth (9:25.40) and senior Katie DiCamillo (Garden City, N.Y.) was seventh (9:32.63).

In the 3,000 meters for the men, sophomore David McCarthy (Waterford, Ireland) outkicked the competition and claimed the title of BIG EAST champion with a winning time of 8:07.06. The final event of the day for the Friars was the 4x800 meter relay, where the team made up of senior Nick Berlutti (Westwood, Mass.), senior Charles Dewey (Worcester, Mass.), freshman Dominic Channon and junior Hayden McLaren placed fourth overall with a time of 7:32.02.

With victories in the distance medley relay, the 1,000 meters, and the 3,000 meters, the men had a strong showing, placing ninth-overall in the team standings with 43 points. The women were tenth-overall in the team standings with 33 points.

The men and women compete next at the New England Championships at Boston University on February 27-28, 2009.