PITTSFORD, NY – The University of Rochester women's track and field team set more than 11 new personal-best marks and notched four All-Atlantic Region Track & Field Championship (AARTFC) qualifiers at the Nazareth Conference Tune-Up, their final meet before Liberty Leagues, on Friday evening at the Golisano Training Center.
 
The Rochester women set a new PR in nearly every track event, led by Ashley Heffernan's regional qualifier in the 60 meters. Heffernan ran a 7.79s qualifier in the first round of the 60 meters, the 36th-fastest time in NCAA Division III this season. Heffernan was joined by Tina Kyriacou in the prelims, who ran an 8.20 to qualify for the finals, before finishing sixth with an 8.24s time in the final.
 
Nora Chen added another new PR in the day's first event, the 60-meter hurdles, notching a new PR of 9.56s in the first round, before taking sixth with a 10.09s time in the final.
 
In the mile, Kat Benninger set a new personal-best time, crossing the finish line in sixth place with a time of 5:22.67, while Alyssa Horng joined the senior in the top 10 with a 10th-place result, also setting a new PR with her 5:31.81 time.
 
In the 400 meters, Christine Zong ran a season's 1:04.99 time, good for 10th, while Rita Sciortino added another PR in the 800 meters, finishing 10th with a time of 2:26.89.
 
Chen added another PR in the 200 meters, crossing the finish line in 26.45 seconds, good for fourth, while Madeline O'Connell notched a regional qualifier and set a new facility record, leading the race with a 25.26s time.
 
Meredith Crockett added yet another PR in the track events, notching an eighth-place result in the 3,000 meters, with a new PR of 11:01.34.
 
In the field events, both Deziree Garrick and Liv Ilasz set new high marks in the weight throw. Garrick's 16.43m throw, was good for third place in the event and an AARTFC qualifier and ranks 31st on the NCAA Division III Indoor Qualifying List. While Ilasz set a new PR with a 14.42m throw, finishing ninth.
 
Garrick was also UR's top finisher in the shot put, adding another regional mark with an 11.99m throw, good for sixth.
 
In the jumps, Heffernan also paced the Yellowjackets in the long jump with a jump of 5.26m, finishing seventh, while Nora Dreslin was Rochester's top finisher in the high jump, surpassing the 1.37m bar.
 
Ashleigh Barrett paced the 'Jackets in the triple jump, notching a fourth-place finish with a 10.34m jump.
 
Rochester next heads to Canton, NY looking to win their third-straight Liberty League Indoor Title, with the 2023-24 Championships, hosted by St. Lawrence, beginning on Friday, Feb. 23 at 11:45 a.m.