Feb. 23, 2003

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- The Providence College women's indoor track team competed at the BIG EAST Indoor Track & Field Championship at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, N.Y. on February 22-23. Senior Roisin McGettigan (Wicklow, Ireland) led the Friars as she captured the 1,000 meter run in a time of 2:48.28 to qualify for the ECAC Championship, which will be held on March 8-9.

Freshman Fiona Crombie (Christchurch, New Zealand) had an impressive showing in the mile run, finishing second in a time of 4:52.01 to qualify for the ECAC's. In the 800-meter run, sophomore Deirdre Byrne (Avoca, Ireland) finished fifth in a time of 2:13.22 to qualify for the ECAC's.

Sophomore Mary Cullen (Sligo, Ireland), who has already qualified for the NCAA's in the 3,000 meters, placed third in a time of 9:30.64. In the 5,000 meters, the duo of graduate student Heather Cappello (3rd - 16:57.63) and junior Lisa Cappello (8th - 17:22.35) of Lockport, N.Y. also qualified for the ECAC's.

McGettigan, senior Emer O'Shea (Limerick, Ireland), sophomore Roisin Quinn (Waterford Ireland) and Byrne ran the 4X800 meter relay in a time of 8:55.69 to finish third and qualify for the ECAC's. In the distance medley relay, Crombie, Quinn, O'Shea and Cullen placed fourth in a time of 11:33.40 to qualify for the ECAC's

Providence will compete at the New England Championship on Friday, February 28 in Boston, Mass.

Final Team Results: 1. Miami 157.50; 2. Notre Dame 120; 3. Georgetown 78; 4. Pittsburgh 57; 5. West Virginia 56.50; 6. Villanova 50; 7. Syracuse 49; 7. Seton Hall 49; 9. Providence 46; 10. Boston College 40; 11. Connecticut 27; 12. Rutgers 22; 13. Virginia Tech 18; 14. St. John's 8.

Providence Individual Finishers: 1,000 Meters 1st Roisin McGettigan 2:48.28 800 Meters 5th Deirdre Byrne 2:13.22 Mile 2nd Fiona Crombie 4:52.01 3,000 Meters 3rd Mary Cullen 9:30.64 5,000 Meters 3rd Heather Cappello 16:57.63 8th Lisa Cappello 17:22.35