Feb. 8, 2003

BOSTON, Mass. -- The Providence College women's indoor track team competed against Boston College and Boston University on Friday, February 7. Senior All-American Roisin McGettigan had an impressive day as she broke the Providence College record in the indoor 800-meter run.

McGettigan's first-place time of 2:05.91 in the 800 meters broke the school record, which was held by former Friar Geraldine Nolan, who set the mark (2:07.57) in February 1990 at the New England Championship. In addition, McGettigan's time is the third fastest time by an NCAA athlete this season and she automatically qualified for the NCAA Indoor Track Championship, which will be held on March 14-15 in Fayetteville, Ark. At the Terrier Invitational on January 25, McGettigan also qualified for the NCAA Indoor Track Championship in the mile as she crossed the finish line in a time of 4:37.95, which was the fastest time in the country.

Sophomore Deirdre Byrne (Avoca, Ireland) also was outstanding in the 800 meters, finishing second behind McGettigan in a time of 2:06.00. Her time of 2:06.00 is the second fastest in Providence College history and the fourth fastest time in the country this season. Byrne also automatically qualified for the NCAA's.

In the mile run, freshman Fiona Crombie (Christchurch, New Zealand) provisionally qualified for the NCAA's, finishing the race in third-place in a time of 4:48.10. In the 3,000-meter run, sophomore All-American Mary Cullen (Sligo, Ireland) finished second in a time of 9:19.74 and automatically qualified for the NCAA Championship. Graduate student Heather Cappello of Lockport, N.Y. (3rd - 9:32.13) provisionally qualified for the NCAA's in the 3,000 meters.

Providence returns to action on Saturday, February 15 at the Fast-race Invitational at Boston University.