Ziel Paces Navy's Efforts at Towson Track Invite

March 28, 2009

ANNAPOLIS, Md. - Junior Erica Ziel (Saginaw, Mich.) qualified for May's ECAC Championship in winning the 10,000-meter run to highlight the Navy women's efforts at the Towson Track Invitational on Saturday afternoon at Johnny Unitas Stadium.

Ziel delivered a qualifying-effort of 37:02.51 to pace a 1-2-3 Navy effort in the 10K race, finishing nearly 2:40 ahead of the next closest competitor not donning the Navy blue and gold.

Junior Anna Bernal (Bonaire, Ga.) and sophomore Sarah Burns (Rochester Hills, Mich.) finished in second and third, turning in times of 38:46.77 and 38:46.80, respectively.

"I was pretty happy with our efforts today," said Navy head coach Carla Criste. "We got off to a great start with Erica's qualifier and victory in the 10K race. We received a number of strong performances in spite of the less-than-ideal weather conditions.

"We have to continue to improve, but at this point of the season, I am pretty happy with how things are shaping up."

Navy also received individual wins from senior Maureen Dooley (Durham, Conn.) and junior Mia Blundetto (Apple Valley, Minn.).

Dooley captured the 3,000-meter steeplechase comfortably with a time of 11:07.86, while her classmate Carey Young (Virginia Beach, Va.) took second in 11:18.85. Meanwhile, Blundetto, who has already earned entry to May's ECAC meet, collected her second victory of the young spring season, winning the hammer throw with a 155'6" (47.41m) toss.

The Mids also received solid efforts from senior Katie Berkey (Tempe, Ariz.), junior Pennsylvania natives Abby Gesecki (Nanticoke, Pa.) and Lexa Gass (Crescent, Pa.) and freshman Jess Palacio (Sparks, Nev.), among others.

Berkey took second-place honors in both the long jump (17'6"; 5.33m) and triple jump (35'11.25"; 10.95m), Gesecki was the runner-up in the 400m (58.11) and was a factor in the 4x400m, Gass crossed in second in the 5,000m (17:56.88), while Palacio took second in the 1,500m (4:42.61) and third in the 800m (2:18.51).

The Mids head to Williamsburg, Va. next weekend to compete at the Colonial Relays on April 3-4.

## GO NAVY! ##

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