GNAC Indoor Track & Field Report: Week 1

( FOR THE 2019-20 OPENING WEEKEND )

	MEN'S ATHLETE OF THE WEEK Matyas Csiki-Fejer, Suffolk (So., Manchester, Mo.) Csiki-Fejer ran against top opponents from all Divisions at Boston University's Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener. He clocked in a 3000 personal-best indoor time of 8:36.53, good for 18th in the field of 37, and enough to secure a spot at NCAA Division III New England Regionals. He is currently ranked sixth in DIII in the 3K.
	WOMEN'S ATHLETE OF THE WEEK Emily Manfra, Suffolk (Sr., Stoneham, Mass.) At Boston University's Sharon Colyear-Danville Invitational, Manfra raced in the 5K against the biggest NCAA Division I competition including 2019 NCAA DI Champion Weini Kelati of New Mexico as well as runners from BYU, Oregon and Arkansas. She produced a school-record indoor 5K time of 17:41.49 even with losing her shoe in lap three and closing out the remaining 22 one shoe down. She secured a spot at the NCAA Division III New England regionals and is currently 6th in NCAA DIII with her time.
	MEN'S ROOKIE OF THE WEEK Cole Bolduc, Suffolk (Fr., Blackstone, Mass.) Bolduc had a standout showing in his first indoor event, finishing 10th in the mile with a time of 4:42.85, the top first-year finish for GNAC runners in the meet at the Emmanuel Invitational.
	WOMEN'S ROOKIE OF THE WEEK Shannon O'Connell, Colby-Sawyer (Fr., Peabody, Mass.) O'Connell highlighted the day for the Chargers at the season opening indoor meet held at Plymouth State. O'Connell posted a record run in the 3k. She earned the victory in the race with a time of 10:40.66 to break the previous record of 10:52.94 set by Kylee Parker '17 on Feb. 4, 2017.

WEEK 1 HONOR ROLL

Ben Jones, Colby-Sawyer (Sr., Enfield, N.H.) - Jones came away with a victory in the 3K to highlight the Chargers' opening indoor meet of the season held at Plymouth State. Jones clocked in at 9:38.91.

Shannon O'Connell, Colby-Sawyer (Fr., Peabody, Mass.) - O'Connell highlighted the day for the Chargers at the season opening indoor meet held at Plymouth State. O'Connell posted a record run in the 3k. She earned the victory in the race with a time of 10:40.66 to break the previous record of 10:52.94 set by Kylee Parker '17 on Feb. 4, 2017.

Amanda Jordan, Emmanuel (Jr., Stoneham, Mass.) - Jordan recorded three top-10 finishes in her season-opener at the Emmanuel College Invitational, posting a fourth-place finish in the high jump with a leap of 1.50m (4'11"), a seventh place finish in the triple jump with a mark of 10.10m (33'1.75") and an eighth place finish in the 500m event with a time of 1:25.62.

Aidan Sitler, Emmanuel (Sr., Wetherfield, Conn.) - Sitler set a new Emmanuel record in the triple jump event as the junior took third place overall with a jump of 13.29m (43'7.25") at the Emmanuel College Invitational, which crushed the previous record held by Michael Thurnauer '08 who was atop the EC annals at 39'8.0" from a leap back on Feb. 12, 2005. 

Nick Gird, Lasell (So., Billerica, Mass.) - Gird set a school record in the 60 meter dash at the Emmanuel Invitational in Roxbury, Mass. He finished with a time of 7.37 seconds, placing 19th among 77 entries, and bettering the Lasell record of 7.38 set by two-time GNAC champion Ben Lane last February.

JJ Pedersen, Regis (Sr., Milford, Conn.) - Pedersen continued his strong running from the cross country season, opening the indoor track campaign by setting a new school record. At the Emmanuel College Invitational Saturday, he finished sixth out of 40 competitors (second among Division III representatives) in the 5000 meter run with a school-record time of 15:48.10. His time was almost 55 full seconds faster than the previous standard established four years and two days beforehand at the same facility.

Ashleigh Kelley, Regis (So., Stoneham, Mass.) - Kelley tied for the top placement among Regis women during the Emmanuel College Invitational Saturday. She finished third in her section and eighth overall in the one mile run with a time of 5:43.50.

Troy Hendricks, Saint Joseph's (Maine) (So., Hiram, Maine) - Hendricks broke the SJC 5000-Meter record by over 10 seconds and placed 14th with a 16:03.66 time. The sophomore standout also won his heat by over 10 seconds.

Allison Rodrigues, Suffolk - Punched her tickets to NCAA Division III New England Regionals in the shot put with a 11.24 meter toss to finish fifth out of 42 competitors. The shot put field was topped by Division-II and Division I athletes, with Rodrigues performance good for third among Division III counterparts, topping all conference competition in the field, which featured Emmanuel, Regis and Saint Joseph's (Maine).