Wise, 4x100 Relay Perform Well On Opening Day Of NCAA Outdoor Championships

La Crosse, WI --- Senior Briana Wise (Worcester, MA/Burncoat) qualified for the finals of the 200 meters with eighth place in the preliminary round at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships this evening hosted by the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

As the only competitor from New England in the 200, Wise clocked a time of 24.57 which was the fourth-fastest time in the third heat as she moves on to Saturday's finals at 6:10 PM EST. Wise returned to this years NCAA meet as the National Runner-Up in search of the Worcester State's third individual national title.

Earlier on the track, the 4x100 meter relay team of Wise, junior Christy Deininger (N. Attleboro, MA) along with sophomore teammates Brittany Hodgerney (Leicester, MA) and Liz Bodensieck (Raynham, MA) placed 12th overall with a time of 48.06 – just 0.30 seconds off from stamping their ticket the finals in two days.

On Saturday, Wise will have to run near her school-record time of 24.28 to compete for the 200 meter crown as the top six times were below 24.35, which included Tiarra Goode (Huntsville, AL) of Birmingham-Southern who timed a 23.96 for the best overall time.

Right behind Wise in this year's race was defending champion, senior Mary Mahoney (Ashtabula, OH) of Mount Union, who tied for ninth (24.58). Goode was third overall at last year's national outdoor meet.

The 4x100 relay is the third Worcester State relay team to ever compete at the NCAA Division III Track & Field Championships as Deininger, Wise and Hodgerney all returned from last year's qualifying team. They join the elite company of Dan Ceminski and Lancer Hall of Famers Rich Riley, Art Belmonte and Mark Bockus who all helped set the Mile Relay program standard at the NCAAs in 1975 (3:16.00).

Tomorrow, Deinigner will compete in the 100 meter hurdles at 6:05 PM EST while Wise goes in the 100 meters at 7:30. Both will run in the opening heat.

Photo Below (Left to Right): Brittany Hodgerney, Liz Bodensieck, Alyssa Jasper, Terrence Gibson, Briana Wise and Christy Deininger pose at yesterday's NCAA Division III Track & Field banquet