BOSTON, MA – University of Rochester women's track and field got off to a tremendous start on day one of Boston University's David Hemery Valentine Invitational at the Track & Tennis Center, as Megan Bell set a new program record, while UR's 4x400-meter relay clocked in with the current fastest time in NCAA Division III.
 
Bell provided the first highlight of UR's day, breaking Samantha Kitchen's indoor 800-meter record, set back in 2016, by more than a second, clocking in at 2:12.33. Bell's time was also a new indoor PR for the junior, hit the All-Atlantic Region Track & Field (AARTFC) qualifying mark, and ranks among the top five in NCAA Division III.
 
Then later on Friday, Bell joined Madeline O'Connell, Kate Isaac and Nora Chen in UR's 4x400-meter relay, notching the current fastest mark in Division III and the sixth-fastest in NCAA Division III history.
 
O'Connell, Isaac, Chen and Bell crossed the finish line in 3:45.78, winning their heat over a trio of Division I schools in Southern Connecticut State, Columbia and Yale and finishing fourth overall while notching another regional-qualifying time.
 
Overall, Rochester tallied seven AARTFC qualifiers over just five events and scored four new personal bests.
 
Sennett Turner got the Yellowjackets started earlier on in the day in the 5,000 meters, earning a regional-qualifying time with her 17:58.23 time, good for 45th.
 
Emily Dill, Sab Lin and Rita Sciortino joined Bell in the 800 meters, with Dill leading the trio with a time of 2:24.74, a new personal best, good for 257th. Lin finished 288th out of the 304 runners, coming in with a time of 2:28.86, while Sciortino finished just a few spots behind Lin in 292nd and a time of 2:30.01.
 
In the 400 meters, O'Connell added another top-10 mark on the Division III Indoor Performance List, finishing 30th in the 217-runner field and fourth among DIII competitors with a time of 56.26, another regional qualifier and a new indoor personal best.
 
Chen and Isaac joined O'Connell in the 400 meters, and both also notched AARTFC marks, with Chen finishing 66th (57.61) and Isaac earning an 89th-place result (58.40). Chen's time also set a new PR and ranks among the top 30 on the Indoor Performance List.
 
Ashley Heffernan then wrapped up the 'Jackets' individual events with the 200 meters, pacing three Yellowjackets in the 231-person field with a time of 27.75, good for 89th and a regional qualifier. Julia Largett also came in 171st (27.17) in the event while Maya Hatch ran a 27.21, good for 176th, with both setting new personal-best times.
 
UR's 4x400-meter relay teams then wrapped up the Yellowjackets' day, with the A-team of O'Connell, Isaac, Chen and Bell setting the new, top-mark in Division III, while Largett, Heffernan, Hatch and Sciortino combined to finish 37th, clocking in at 4:08.18.
 
The Yellowjackets will wrap up the David Hemery Valentine Invitational with the men's events on Saturday, Feb. 10 beginning at 9:00 a.m.