WALTHAM, Mass. - Six Brandeis University women's track and field competitors qualified provisionally for the NCAA Division III championships this past weekend.
The Judges' first NCAA performance came at the New Balance Collegiate Invitational at the Armory in New York City on Feb. 6. Competing in a heat with eight Division I programs, the distance medley relay team of senior Meaghan Casey of Franklin, Mass., sophomore Michelle Gellman of Potomac, Md., sophomore Marie Lemay of Saco, Maine, and junior Beth Pisarik of Chelmsford, Mass., completed the race in 12:12.53. They are one of only three teams to reach the provisional qualifying mark in the distance medley relay so far this season, though they would likely need to improve their mark to be selected for the championships. The automatic qualifying performance for the championships is 11:53.60.
The next day at the Tufts University Stampede, the Judges had two competitors qualify for the NCAAs in the triple jump. Senior Anat Ben Nun of Haifa, Israel, who was already ranked fourth in the nation in the event, improved her performance by one centimeter with a performance of 11.67 meters (38 feet, 3 ½ inches). Ben Nun is a two-time All-American, who finished third in the nation in the triple jump as a freshman and second as a sophomore before missing her junior season due to injury.
Classmate Ali Sax of Lincoln, Mass., was the runner up in the triple with her first-ever NCAA qualifying performance. Her distance of 11.26 meters (36 feet, 11 ½ inches) currently ranks 14th in Division III. Sixteen competitors are selected for the meet in the triple jump.
The 2009 NCAA Division III women's indoor track and field championships will be held at the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology on March 13-14.
Casey is a 2005 graduate of Bishop Feehan High School. She is the daughter of Timothy and Julie Casey, Franklin, Mass.
Gellman is a 2007 graduate of Winston Churchill High School. She is the daughter of Michael and Shannon Gellman, Potomac, Md.
Lemay is a 2007 graduate of Thornton Academy. She is the daughter of Richard and Carol Lemay, Saco, Maine.
Pisarik is a 2006 graduate of Chelmsford High School. She is the daughter of Kristopher and Jennifer Pisarik, Chelmsford, Mass.
Ben Nun is a 2002 graduate of Ironi-Hey High School. She is the daughter of Jonathan and Hana Benun, Haifa, Israel.
Sax is a 2005 graduate of Lincoln-Sudbury High School. She is the daughter of Eric and Julia Sax, Lincoln, Mass.