Escalera Sets 100 Mark to Lead Women's Track & Field at Tufts Sunshine Classic

MEDFORD, Mass. -- Senior Jailene Escalera (Rockland, Mass.) broke a 42-year old school record in the 100-meter dash to lead the Bridgewater State University women's outdoor track & field team on Saturday at the Tufts Sunshine Classic.

Ecalera posted a preliminary time of 12.21 seconds in the 100 as she eclipsed the previous BSU standard of 12.3 seconds set by Fran Ramos in 1981.Escalera, who won the event with a finals time of 12.31 seconds, also captured top honors at themeet in the 200-meter dash with a time of 25.37 seconds.

Senior Alison McDonough (Halifax, Mass.) placed first in the 100-meter hurdles with a finals and collegiate-best time of 14.43 seconds. McDonough currently ranks 17th in all of Division III in the 100 hurdles.

Sophomore Kiara Abrantes (Somerset, Mass.) won the 400-meter dash with a collegiate-best time of 58.62 seconds.

Abrantes also ran a leg on the Bears' winning 4x400-meter relay along with seniors Lily Marra (Lakeville, Mass.) and Lindsey Golden (Mansfield, Mass.), and junior Nicole Major (Andover, Mass.). The quarter recorded a time of 4:19.52.

The Bears' foursome of McDonough, Escalera, Abrantes and junior Maeve Grosschedl (Lakeville, Mass.) placed first in the 4x100-meter relay with a time of 48.64 seconds.

Senior Abbi Peterson (Watertown, Mass.) won the high jump with a leap of five feet, 3.75 inches (1.62m).

Sophomore Tristen Gomes (Middleboro, Mass.) came within an inch of the Bears' outdoor triple jump mark of 36 feet, 11.75 inches () set by Molly McNamara in 2019. Gomes placed second at the meet with a distance of 36 feet, 11 inches (11.25m).

The Bears finished second at the meet with a team score of 147.5 points. The host Jumbos placed first with 329 points.

The BSU women's track & field team will compete next Saturday at the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Outdoor Championships hosted by Fitchburg State University. The Bears are the two-time defending champions.