PITTSFORD, NY – Senior Megan Bell turned in a terrific individual performance and anchored what is now the number two relay in Division III this season to lead the University of Rochester women's track and field team at the Nazareth Conference Challenge Cup on Saturday at the Golisano Training Center at Nazareth University.
 
Bell's individual win came in the 400 meters, as the senior crossed the finish in 56.77 seconds, the current #4 time in Division III this season. That time was one of four All-Atlantic Region qualifying performances for Rochester on the day, established a new meet record and new indoor personal-best for Bell.
 
In addition, Bell, Eva Ciuffetelli, Nora Chen and Raquella Casserino turned in an ultra-fast time of 3:54.90 in the 4x400 meter relay to close the meet, earning a win and posting the second-best Division III time this season. The mark also established a new meet record and was a regional qualifier.
 
UR's other two regional performances came from Chen in the 60 meter hurdles and Cora Rose in the shot put. Rose finished fifth with a distance of 11.84 meters, while Chen ended sixth in her event at 9.32 seconds. Her top time of the day came in the prelims where the sophomore clocked in at 9.30 seconds, a new personal-best.
 
To open the meet, Chen, Bell, Ciuffetelli and Tina Kyriacou scored a runner-up finish in 1:44.97 during the 4x200 meter relay.
 
Up next, four 'Jackets finished in the top-6 in the 5000 meters, with three establishing new PR's. Riley Joseph was second in 18:56.20, while Andie Burton crossed in fourth, at 18:58.75. Alicia Lawson was fifth in 18:59.85, while Ella Blau ended one spot behind in 19:02.77.
 
Another runner, Sab Lin, hit a personal-best in the mile, crossing the finish in ninth with a time of 5:28.61.
 
Joining in with top-10's during other track events were Maria Khalifeh in the 800 meters (9th, 2:25.37), Ciuffetelli in the 200 meters (10th, 27.29 seconds) and Ellie Ponko in the 3000 meters (10th, 11:04.82).
 
In the field, Deziree Garrick recorded two top-10 results in both throwing events. Garrick was sixth in the weight throw (15.49 meters) and seventh in the shot put (11.72 meters). Teammate Liv Ilasz was tenth in the weight throw as well, posting a mark of 13.84 meters.
 
Jumper Ashleigh Barrett ended up seventh in the long jump with a distance of 5.16 meters to record UR's other field event top-10 result.
 
In the team scoring, the meet is scored by conference affiliation, with five conferences represented. The Empire 8, with SUNY Geneseo and Nazareth took the crown, scoring 265.5 combined points. UR and Ithaca, representing the Liberty League, were second with 183 points, with the Landmark (86), NJAC (74.5) and SUNYAC (33) rounding out the competition.
 
Individual team scores saw SUNY Geneseo win with 224.5 points. Ithaca was runner-up at 121 points with the Yellowjackets placing third with 62 team points.
 
Next week, UR continues its indoor season on Thursday evening, competing at the RIT Thursday Night Meet starting at 4 pm.