Fast Track to Success

By Jim Fenton

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- She made a favorable first impression with the Bridgewater State University women's indoor and outdoor track & field teams a year ago.

As a freshman in the 2024-25 season, Grace Inacio (Taunton, Mass.) was the  Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week a combined 12 times in the winter and spring.

She earned Division III All-New England honors and All-New England Intercollegiate Amateur Athletic Association honors in the 200-meter dash.

And Inacio was part of the BSU outdoor 4x100 relay team that made school history by reaching Division III All-America status after finishing sixth with a school-record time.

As she entered the 2025-26 indoor season this winter, Inacio wanted to keep moving forward in her sophomore year.

And Inacio did just that for the Bears, winning five races and placing second three times.

Inacio owns one of the fastest times in the 200 in the nation, and she has earned a spot in this week's NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships.

Inacio tied for 12th place in the country with a time of 24.53 seconds in the 200, that occuring last Saturday at the Tufts Final Qualifier.

The health science major will run in the preliminary race in Birmingham, Ala., on Friday at 5:15 p.m. If she qualifies for the final, that race will be Saturday at 6:15 p.m.

"I came in with expectations to be better than last year," said Inacio. "When I began training, I wanted to be stronger and faster.

"I got progressively better each meet."

Inacio began her second season by finishing first in the 60-meter dash and second in the 300 at the Suffolk Relay. In the next meet, she won the 200 at the Boston University Mini-Meet with a school-record time of 24.94 seconds.

Those back-to-back performances gave notice that Inacio was building a special sophomore season.

"I was always on the (national) list since early in the season," said Inacio. "I had good peace of mind.

"I kept moving up the whole season. I was confident all season that I was going to make it (to the NCAAs). That was the goal. I'm just glad it all worked out."

After her successful freshman season and after being part of an All-America relay team, Inacio spent the summer preparing for the next step.

She worked out often, focused on making sure the progress would continue.

"I never missed a day (of training)," said Inacio. "My confidence was built last year. I knew I could do it.

"It's such an awesome feeling knowing I did it all on my own."

Inacio and teammate Kiara Abrantes (Somerset, Mass.), who is also headed to the NCAAs in the 400, both set school records in the 200 this season.

Abrantes is the current record-holder with a time of 24.66 seconds. Inacio had set the mark of 24.68 when she finished second at the John Thomas Terrier Classic at BU.

Inacio was the MASCAC champion in the 60 and finished second in the 200 and she earned Division III All-New England honors in the 60 and 200, finishing fifth and eighth.

"It's about hard work, being committed and setting goals for myself," said Inacio. "Now this is the next goal (finishing among the best at the NCAAs).

"I always thought college was so scary, that everyone was so fast. But with the right coach and the right teammates, everything is possible."

Abrantes will be taking part in her final meet for BSU and Inacio will be there with her.

"It helps a lot," said Inacio of having Abrantes in the nationals as well. "I'll be there for her too. Having each other in all the big meets is a big thing for us. We are able to talk to each other and help each other."

Inacio traveled to Geneva, Ohio, last May for her first NCAAs, that time part of the relay team with Abrantes, Jailene Escalera and Alison McDonough.

That experience will help as Inacio runs an individual race for the first time on a national level.

"It was very exciting and very nerve wracking being there last year," said Inacio. "Being there with the team really helped to calm me down.

"It was different to see everyone there and competing but it helps to know I made it that far and it makes me feel good knowing I should be there.

"I just want to (have a personal-best run). I don't worry about anyone else. I want to get out strong."

Less than two years in, Grace Inacio is heading to her second NCAA meet, aiming keep moving forward.

"This has been the goal, to get better and to improve,'' said Inacio. "My confidence has really boosted."