FAIRFAX, VA – Monmouth University track and field's Jacci Martinelli set a freshman program record in the women's steeplechase event with a time of 11:42.64 at the Dalton Ebanks Invitational on Saturday.

Martinelli's time placed 11^th at the event hosted by George Mason and currently ranks ninth in the Colonial Athletic Association this outdoor season. Not only did Martinelli set the freshman record with her mark, but it also was the seventh-fastest time in school history.

The Hawks earned eight first-place finishes at the meet, with sophomore Yasmeen Tinsley winning both the women's 100m hurdles (14.02) and 400m hurdles (59.55). Tinsley's times were both personal bests, and ranked second and fourth, respectively, in school history. Ashley Navarro recorded the school's fourth-fastest women's 800m time at 2:08.75 and won the event. Veronica Chainov impressed with a top clearance of 1.73m in the women's high jump.

On the men's side, Keven Kevelier continued his strong start to the outdoor season with another win in the triple jump (14.41m). Chris Bagnell set a new PR in the javelin with a throw of 69.05m, narrowly edging teammate Evan Niedrowski (68.90m) to win the event. They now own the top two throws in the CAA this year, with Bagnell ranking 28^th in the nation and Niedrowski ranking 30^th. Bagnell's throw is also the sixth-best javelin throw in program history. AJ Bailor won the shot put with a toss of 15.50m, while Dalton Yeust nearly bested his outdoor school record in the pole vault (4.91m) with a clearance of 4.88m.

As for other Top Ten performances, Giulia Pezzolla shined in the steeplechase with a time of 11:22.75 (fifth). McKenzie Delahanty (17.02:34, second) and Marisa Kilgarriff (17:22.70, fifth) ran strong races in the women's 5000m, while Abby Boggs and Natalie Rolon-Issa made the list for their respective field events. Boggs cleared the bar at 3.53m (fourth) in the women's pole vault, and Rolon-Issa now holds the sixth-best women's discus throw in program history at 43.54m.

Declan McDonnell ran the second-fastest time by a Hawk in the men's 5000m at 14:14.82, and David Strong tied the tenth-best men's long jump at 7.17m.

EVENT WINNERS
Women's 100mH: Yasmeen Tinsley – 14.02
Women's 400mH: Yasmeen Tinsley – 59.55
Women's 800m: Ashley Navarro – 2:08.75
Women's High Jump: Veronica Chainov – 1.73m
Men's Triple Jump: Keven Kevelier – 14.41m
Men's Javelin: Chris Bagnell – 69.05m
Men's Shot Put: AJ Bailor – 15.50m
Men's Pole Vault: Dalton Yeust – 4.88m

ALL-TIME TOP-TENS
Women's 100mH: Yasmeen Tinsley – 14.02, second
Women's 400mH: Yasmeen Tinsley – 59.55, fourth
Women's 800m: Ashley Navarro – 2:08.75, fourth
Women's Steeplechase: Giulia Pezzolla – 11:22.75, fifth
Women's Steeplechase: Jacci Martinelli – 11:42.64, seventh, FRESHMAN RECORD
Women's 5000m: McKenzie Delahanty – 17:02.34, second
Women's 5000m: Marisa Kilgarriff – 17:22.70, fifth
Women's Pole Vault: Abby Boggs – 3.53m, fourth
Women's Discus: Natalie Rolon-Issa – 43.54m, sixth
Men's 5000m: Declan McDonnell – 14:14.82, second
Men's Javelin: Chris Bagnell – 69.05m, sixth
Men's Long Jump: David Strong – 7.17m, tied-10^th
 
QUOTES
"Overall, I felt the squad had a great weekend. This meet was an excellent opportunity for us. We had some elite performances, and we were finishing near the top in most events." – Head Coach Mike Nelson
 
UP NEXT
The Hawks will compete in two meets this weekend. Monmouth will begin competition at the two-day Larry Ellis Invitational at Princeton on Friday, April 14, while a handful of Hawks will travel to Bucknell for the three-day Bison Outdoor Classic beginning that same day.