Feb. 21, 2009

Complete Results

BOSTON - The Boston University women's indoor track and field team captured its fourth straight America East Championship on Saturday at the BU Track and Tennis Center. Senior Andrea Walkonen was named the meet's Most Outstanding Track Performer, while freshman Shelby Walton earned Most Outstanding Rookie honors.

The Terriers became the first team since 1996 to win a fourth consecutive conference crown and have now won 11 titles in the 20-year history of the conference championship. BU won five events on the second day of competition to overcome a first-day deficit and pace the field with 158.5 points. Albany was second with 141.5 points, followed by New Hampshire (120), Vermont (92), Maine (73), Binghamton (61), UMBC (57), Stony Brook (54) and Hartford (21).

Walton captured the America East title in the 55-meter dash with a 7.10 and finished third in the 200m dash at 24.75. Walton was the second straight Terrier to win the 55m dash after Whitney Ford won the event last year. Senior Erin Catarius was fifth in the 55m dash (7.22) and sixth in the 200m dash (25.03), qualifying for the ECAC Championship in both events.

After setting a school record in the 5,000m on the first day of competition, Walkonen won the 3,000m run in 9:25.69, 29 seconds ahead of her nearest competitor to capture the event for BU for the second year in a row. Also scoring in the event was senior Mollie Zapata (10:04.94) in fifth and freshman Katie Matthews (10:13.63) in seventh.

Sophomore Karly Neveu defended her title in the high jump, clearing 1.63m. Ford was second in the triple jump, leaping 12.33m.

Senior Becky Marshburn became the first Terrier since 2003 to win the 500m dash, qualifying for ECACs in the process with a season-best 1:14.02. Marshburn also placed fifth in the 55m hurdles, posting an 8.45.

Senior Katie Weider won the 800m run with an ECAC-qualifying 2:12.16. Weider was the first BU athlete to win that event since 2005.

Sophomore Laura Martin (25.02) and freshman Jackie Dim (25.12) also qualified for ECACs in the 200m dash, finishing fifth and eighth, respectively. Dim finished second in the 400m dash in 57.11 and sophomore Amanda Howard was fourth with a mark of 57.99.

Junior Sarah Mosser was the runner-up in the 1,000m run, posting a 2:52.56

BU was third in the 4x400m relay, with Marshburn, Dim, Howard and senior Edwina Clark crossing in 3:50.27.

The Terriers' coaching staff of director of track and field Robyne Johnson, assistant track director Bruce Lehane and assistant coaches Gabe Sanders and Mike Delgado was honored as the Coaching Staff of the Year.

The Terriers are back in action next weekend, hosting the New England Championship on Friday and Saturday (Feb. 27-28) at the Track and Tennis Center.