Jan. 31, 2009
Complete Thomson Invitational Results 
PHILADELPHIA - Colleen Boland and Thomas Pannulla set new personal career marks in the 3,000 meter run and Caitlin Storbeck captured gold in the mile to lead the La Salle track and field team at the University of Delaware's Thomson Invitational on Saturday.
Storbeck bested the 33-runner field in the mile race with a time of 5:12.46. She pulled out the race past Saint Joseph's senior Amy Rhein, who finished just 0.13 behind.
Boland smashed her personal record in the 3,000 meter run. She ran a 10:24.58, besting her old mark of 10:54.53 at last year's Gotham Cup and finished second overall out of 29 runners. Boland was one of five Explorers in the 3K race. Senior Mary Clare Parrott finished eighth (11:06.77) with rookie Pamela Alva just behind in ninth (11:07.70). Nicole Shiavone (15th; 11:21.91) and Nicole Pearce (19th; 11:36.38) rounded out the race.
The women's 4x800 meter relay team captured gold as well as the team of Caitlin Storbeck, Samantha Gallagher, Maureen Benner and Kellilyn Fierras combined to clock a 9:38.80 to top the eight-team field.
Jalessa Graham and Dusti Varland also turned in strong performances in their events. Graham finished fourth out of 38 runners with an 8.02 mark in the 60 meter dash and eighth out of 59 with a time of 26.75 in the 200 meter dash. Varland opened up her season with a 10-00.00 mark in the pole vault.
On the men's side, Pannulla led with his performance in the 3,000 meter run. He clocked an 8:43.77 to best his personal record and finish third in the 20-runner race. Patrick McAllister (9:10.94) and Steven Grabowski (9:20.78) also competed in the 3,000m, crossing the finish line 13th and 15th, respectively.
Robert Ricketts also turned in a strong performance for the Explorers, finishing first out of eight runners in the 1,000 meter run. Ricketts clocked a 2:35.07. Mark Del Monaco also helped lead the distance runners with a second place finish in the 5,000 mater run with a time of 16:13.72.
Nearly 800 track and field athletes from all three NCAA divisions participated in the meet today.
The Explorers return to action next Friday as the team splits between the Yale Invitational and the two-day New Balance Invitational at the Armory.
