AMHERST, Mass. – Molly Lu McKellar finished third in strong field in the heptathlon at the Farley Inter-Regional Extravaganza while Aidan Law and Maggie St. John posted scoring marks at the NEICAAA championships as the Keene State College outdoor track and field teams competed at a pair of meets over the weekend with the NCAA final qualifying meet nearing.

In Williamstown, McKellar posted a mark of 4,325 points to finish third of eight scoring competitors.  She, along with first-place Livi Mazerolle (Williams College; 4,600 points) and second-place Emily Rubio (Middlebury College; 4,576 points) all won two of the seven events, with McKellar winning with the best shot put mark of 10.54 meters and the best javelin throw with 31.64 meters.  She was also third in the high jump (1.57 meters).  The difference in scores ultimately came in the 800 meters, where Mazarolle was first in 2:23.15 and Rubio second in 2:27.29 while McKellar was sixth in 2:36.64.

At the All-New England championships, which include competitors from all NCAA levels, KSC got a sixth-place effort in the long jump from Aidan Law with a mark of 7.01 meters, accomplished twice in his series of six jumps.  He was just .10 meters from second place Chamberlain Guthrie of the University of Massachusetts.  Ryan Tona of the University of Rhode Island won the event with a 7.22-meter mark.  KSC's 4x100 relay team of Law, Sean Von Ranson, Kyle Thomas, and Jonathan DeAguiar ran to a 13th-place time of 42.73.

On the women's side, Sarah Christian recorded an impressive personal record time in the 5,000 meters, placing 21st of 31 in 18:35.63.  Her previous 5,000 time recorded a month and four days ago was 19:18.58, as she broke her previous PR by more than 40 seconds.  St. John placed eighth in the 10,000 meters (and third among Division III competitors), finishing in 38:39.03 to gain the Owls a point in the team standings.

Drea Defreitas added a 10.51 mark in the triple jump as a first year, while Anna O'Reilly ran the 1,500 meters in 4:58.56.

"As we get closer to the end of the season, we took some risks and the athletes put it on the line today," said KSC head coach Dan Roark.  "Some worked out the way we wanted and some didn't, but I am happy everyone left it out there today.  Big finish for Sara Christian in her last race as an Owl with a big 5K PR.  Great career for her and she finished on a high note.  One more chance on Thursday to see if we can get anyone for one more weekend."

Keene State will travel to the Massachusetts Final Qualifier on Thursday (May 15) at 2:00 p.m.  The Owls will have Keely Giordano compete in the 100 and 200, Law in the long jump, and a men's 4x100 meter relay team of Law, Von Ranson, Thomas, and DeAguiar.

NCAA selections will be announced formally on Friday (May 16) at 8:00 p.m., with Law's mark of 7.24 meters at the George Davis Invitational on April 18 currently in a tie for 20th (and officially 22nd) in Division III.  The top 22 will qualify for the event.  Law made the NCAA indoor nationals, narrowly missing becoming a first team long jump All-American.