BOSTON – The University of Rochester women's track and field team turned in some outstanding performances on Friday at one of the largest track and field meets in the northeast, competing at the Division I-laden Boston University David Hemery Valentines Invitational.
 
Overall, 16 women competed for Rochester at the meet, with the Yellowjackets turning in 13 All-Atlantic Regional qualifying performances, two school records, several personal bests and five NCAA Division III top-25 marks.
 
Junior Susan Bansbach led the way for UR. Individually, Bansbach broker her own school record in the 400 meters, running a lifetime best of 55.70 seconds. That time lowered her team record by nearly two full seconds and currently ranks #2 on the NCAA Division III performance list this season. Her time was good enough to finish in 6th place overall and be the top Division III runner among 195 runners in the event.
 
Bansbach also was part of Rochester's exceptional 4x400 meter relay squad which also consisted of Kristin Hardy, Lisa Pink and Eileen Bequette. The foursome clocked in with a time of 3:51.83, the second best time in school history and current #3 ranked time in Division III this season. UR was the top Division III team in this race as well and finished 9th among 47 teams.
 

Hardy also ran the 400 meters and posted a personal best time of 57.20 seconds, ranking second behind Bansbach in team history. She finished 34th in the large field and is #14 on the Division III performance list this season.
 
In the pole vault, junior Madeline O'Connell matched her own school record from earlier this season, clearing 3.60 meters to finish third of 29 competitors. That height is #15 in Division III and qualifies her for regionals.
 
Joining O'Connell with an AAR height in the pole vault was Ashley Heffernan who cleared 3.30 meters and finished 20th. Heffernan also ranked eight of 41 runners in the 60 meter hurdles with her time of 9.46 seconds, another regional qualifying performance.
 
UR was strong in the 800 meters as well, with the teams top three runners, Pink, Megan Bell and Bequette all earning regional qualifying times. Pink placed in 50th of 186 runners in 2:14.28, a new personal best and time which is 19th in Division III this season.
 
Bell and Bequette nearly ran identical times, with Bell crossing the finish in 2:20.71 and Bequette just .14 seconds behind.
 
All four runners who competed in the 200 meters set new personal bests in the event. O'Connell led this group with a 25.99 second run, good for 86th of 230 runners. She, along with Kate Isaac, who ran in 26.27 seconds both qualified for the regional championships with their performances.
 
Others posting PR's in the 200 were Annabelle Shanks (26.26) and Jael Ernest Fleurant (27.70).
 
In the distance races, the Yellowjackets added two more AARTFC times from Rachel Dennis and Grace Iltis. Dennis finished the 5000 meters in 18:12.45, good for 22nd overall and a top-50 NCAA time. Iltis crossed the finish in the 3000 meters in 10:26.
 
UR also got solid performances from others competing at BU on Friday, including Ella Wise Bellin (5000m), Madeleine Vogel (400m), Alexis Aboagye (400m) and Kelley Foley (800m).
 
Rochester's men's track and field team will take to the track tomorrow afternoon competing on day two of the Valentine's Invitational.