May 5, 2001

PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- The Providence College men's and women's track team each had a strong first day at the BIG EAST Outdoor Track Championship in Piscataway, N.J. on Saturday, May 5. After the first day of competition for the Friars, the women's team had scored 21 points and was in 7th place and the men's squad had scored six points and was tied for 10th place.

The women were led by sophomores Brooke Freeburg (Waterford, Pa.) and Roisin McGettigan (Wicklow, Ireland). Freeburg won the javelin throw with a toss of 48.28 meters, which qualified her for the NCAA Outdoor Track Championship. It marked the first BIG EAST field title ever for a member of the Friars. McGettigan also was impressive, winning the inaugural women's 3,000 meter steeplechase. Her time of 10:24.35 is fastest time ever run by an Irish woman in the 3,000 meter steeplechase. She also qualified for the NCAA Championship.

In the 10,000 meters, senior Francine Darroch (Cambridge, Ontario) finished eighth in a time of 36:56.83 and scored.

On the men's side, junior Paul Reilly (Loughrea, Ireland) finished fifth in the 10,000 (30:04.98) and senior Ciaran Lynch (Limerick, Ireland) was seventh (30:20.79).

Junior Hamish Thorpe (Auckland, New Zealand) finished third in heat 1 of the 1,500 meter trials (3:50.47) and will race in the finals on Sunday, May 6.

Providence Women's Finishers

EVENT	        PLACE	        ATHLETE	                TIME
1,500 meters	7th heat1	Emer O'Shea	        4:39.52
3,000 m steeple	1st	        Roisin McGettigan	10:24.35
10,000 meters	8th	        Francine Darroch	36:56.83
	        -	        Marissa Colburn	        37:59.95
javelin	        1st	        Brooke Freeburg	        48.28 meters
discus	        -	        Brooke Freeburg	        35.78 meters


Providence Men's Finishers
EVENT	        PLACE	        ATHLETE	                TIME
1,500 meters	3rd heat1	Hamish Thorpe	        3:50.47
10,000 meters	5th	        Paul Reilly	        30:04.98
	        7th	        Ciaran Lynch	        30:20.79