May 8, 2005

RICHMOND, Va. - The 4x100 meter relay team and the 4x400 meter relay teams seized gold for the Rams as the Rhode Island women's track & field team claimed its fourth consecutive Atlantic 10 Outdoor Championship. Rhody edged runner-up Duquesne 150-135 after being tied with the Dukes at 64 points after day one.

Despite windy conditions with gusts of 20 mph at times, Rachel Oakes (Scotia, N.Y.), Jen Strysko (Hillburn, N.Y.), Amber Price (Westerly, R.I.) and Destiny Woodbury (Providence, R.I.) garnered wins in both the 4x100 meter and the 4x400 meter relays with times of 47.45 and 3:49.55 respectively.

Fifth-year distance runner Heidi Westerling (Acworth, N.H.) won her third individual title in the 10,000m with a time of 37:23.36 in day one and took second in the 5,000 meter with a time of 17:26.39 on Sunday.

"It was a very close meet and Duquesne had a fabulous Championship," said Rhode Island head coach Laurie Feit-Melnick. "We're very happy with today's results and the way the team stepped up in such a close meet. It was a team effort and we are excited to win our fourth consecutive title."

Kolleen McCauley (Red Bank, N.J.), Laurel Bickford (Oakdale, N.Y), Megan O'Shea (Miller Place, N.Y.) and Janet Pailes (North Attleboro, Mass.) finished strong in the 4x800 relay, taking third-place with six points.

In the 200 meter dash the Rams registered 16 points with Oakes taking second for eight points, Woodbury third for six and Price seventh for two. Oakes also took fourth in the 100 meter dash (12.24) while Woodbury posted a third-place finish in the 400 meter in a time of 57.00.

Strysko notched two bronze medal finishes in the 100 meter hurdles and the 400 meter hurdles in times of 14.62 and 1:04.88 adding 12 points to the Ram total while Emily Anderson (Westerly, R.I.) was fifth in the 1500 meter with a time of 4:43.99.

Team Results

1. RHODE ISLAND - 150
2. Duquesne - 135
3. La Salle - 116
4. Richmond - 103
5. Temple - 85.5
6. Fordham - 82
7. Massachusetts - 76.5
8. Dayton - 73
9. Saint Joseph's - 33
10. Xavier - 3

First-team

Heidi Westerling, 10,000 meter
Rachel Oakes, Jen Strysko, Amber Price, Destiny Woodbury, 4x100 & 4x400 meter relays
Rachel Oakes, 200 meter
Sarah Thornton, discus

Second-team

Heidi Westerling, 5,000 meter
Rachel Oakes, 200 meter
Christina Bizon, hammer