GORHAM, MAINE 2/11/12 – Junior Maggie Fitter (Branford, Conn.) won a pair of races to lead the Keene State women's track team to a third place finish at the Little East Conference Track and Field Championships held at the Costello Sports Complex at the University of Southern Maine on Saturday.

Fitter posted a winning time of 1:36.70 in the 600 and also topped the field in the 1,000 with a time of 3:03.35. Senior Sarah Titus (Derry, N.H.) placed second in the 1,000 with a time of 3:06.60.

In other races, sophomore Emily LaPlant (Hudson, N.H.) was third in the 800 (2:24.06) and freshman Melanie Escalante (New Canaan, Conn.) placed third in the 400 (1:01.19). 

The team of sophomore Mary Dematteo (Northford, Conn.), junior Janel Haggerty (Guilford, Conn.), Escalante, and Fitter, also won the 4x400 relay (4:11.84).  Seniors Paige Mills (Keene, N.H.) and Andrea Walsh (Bolton, Conn.) joined Titus and LaPlante to take second in the 4x800 relay (10:06.97).

In field events, Haggerty placed second in the high jump (5'-02.25") while freshman Carley O'Brien (Kittery, Maine) was third in the long jump (17'-00.00").

The Owls finished third in the team scoring with 108 points. Host Southern Maine captured its 12th straight title with 205 points.

Juniors Chris Plankey (Bristol, N.H.) and Thomas Paquette (Bolton, Conn.) had the top two performances by the Keene State men's team.  Plankey placed second in the 800 with a time of 1:58.24 and Paquette was second in the 3,000 (8:45.66).  Sophomore Ryan Widzgowski (Camden, Maine) also finished fourth in the mile (4:25.86).

In throwing events, freshman Ben Keach (Newfields, N.H.) was third in the weight throw (41'-9.75") and fourth in the shot put (44'-10.75").

The Owls finished fifth in the six-team field with 44 points.  UMass-Dartmouth broke Southern Maine's streak of three consecutive titles, winning its first championship with 177 points.