KINGSTON, R.I.- Strong distance medley relays from both the men and women capped off the first day of the Atlantic 10 Championships for the La Salle track and field team.

The women's team finished in second while their men's counterparts also reached the medal stand thanks to a third place finish. Freshman Morgan Szekely anchored the women's relay team and was able to blow by three other teams in the final 400 meters to give the Explorers the second place finish with a time of 11:51.5. In the men's race it was also the anchor this time graduate student Vince Perozze who was able to run down competitors in the final 400 meters to finish with a 10:03.3.

Senior Cayleigh Solano, who was also a member of the distance medley relay along with senior Taylor Hackett and freshman Ifetayo Tyler, is the top qualifier for tomorrow's finals in the 1000 meters. She ran a 2:55.6 in the preliminary round. Junior Rebecca Scardelletti also raced in the even finishing in 16^th with a time of 3:06.7.

All three La Salle men who entered the 1000 meter preliminaries also reached the finals to be held tomorrow. Freshman Nicholas Smart led the way with a second place time of 2:30.20 while junior Chris Trimble and sophomore John Pujols finished in fifth and eighth with times of 2:30.32 and 2:31.93.
   
Senior Francis Mancho qualified for the finals in the 60 meter dash thanks to a time of 7.05 which was the seventh fastest time in the preliminary round. Freshman Justin Guerre narrowly missed qualifying for both the 60 meter and the 200 meter as he finished in ninth in both events which is one place short of reaching the finals. He ran a 7.06 in the 60 meter and a 22.7 in the 200 meter.

Senior Nico Greco earned the Explorers a point in the 5000 meters thanks to an eighth place finish with a time of 14:56.2. Junior Ian Barnhill also competed in the event finishing in 11^th place with a time of 15:06.5.

Freshman Ifetayo Tyler led the way for the Explorers in the 800 meters with a time of 2:17.5 which was good for a ninth place finish in the 22 women field. Juniors Shannon Dwyer and Kate Conville finished in 10^th and 15^th respectively with times of 2:18.6 and 2:20.6.

Junior Molly Mickle earned La Salle a point in the 5000 meter run thanks to a eighth place finish with a time of 17:18.6. Freshman Michelle Myland and sophomore Olivia Boyer also ran finishing in 14^th (18:04.7) and 23^rd (19:01.1) respectively.

Junior Josh Byrd finished in 10^th in the 400 meter prelims. Byrd ran a 51.19 in the event. Sophomore Cris Hunter was the only Explorer in the men's 500m field coming in 12^th with a time of 1:08.1. Freshman Collin Pierlott ran a 2:04.8 for a 14^th place finish in the 800m preliminary field.

Sophomore Nick Della Vecchia ran a 9.05 in the 60m hurdles for a 13^th place finish while Jordan Bryan jumped 6.39 meters for an 11^th place finish in the long jump.

Freshmen Amber Jenkins and Victoria Jones ran in the 200m preliminaries for the Explorers turning in 16^th and 17^th place finishes respectively. Classmate Carolyn Boyce ran a 1:06.6 for a 18^th place finish in the 400m prelims. Rounding out the action on day one for the women was sophomore Amber Jackson who jumped 4.88m for a 17^th place finish in the long jump.

The Explorers return to the track tomorrow for the final day of the Atlantic 10 Championships. The finals for the preliminary races ran today will take place tomorrow as well as the events that didn't compete on day one.

For full results and a comprehensive schedule of tomorrow's events visit the Atlantic 10 website.