PISCATAWAY, N.J. (February 12, 2012) – Rutgers women’s track and field split its squad between three different meets as the Scarlet Knights posted a number of standout performances during the weekend. RU competed at the Valentine’s Invitational in Boston, Mass., and a pair of meets at the New York Armory Track and Field Center.

"We had an awesome weekend,” said head coach James Robinson. “Only 20 student-athletes competed as the we split the team in order to maximize the best competitive environment for each event group. They responded with two more school records which makes four-straight in consecutive weekends. The group also added a couple more ECAC and BIG EAST qualifying marks."

At the Valentine’s Invitational on Friday, Feb. 10, Ashley Deckert (Newfield, N.J.) set a school record in the 1,000-meter run with a time of 2:51.89 (seventh place). The performance was a BIG EAST and ECAC qualifying mark and erased a 25-year old record, topping the previous time of 2:53.85 in 1987.

The Scarlet Knights turned in three other qualifying times as Christina Dibernardo (Woodbury, N.Y.) ran an ECAC and BIG EAST time of 1:15.69 to place sixth in the 500-meter. Victoria Pontecorvo (Staten Island, N.Y.) clocked 2:56.45 (17th, BE) in the 1,000-meter run, while Allison Payenski (Whitehouse Station, N.J.) posted a time of 5:01.51 (35th, BE) in the one-mile run.

Rutgers competed in the Lafayette/Rider Invitational and Millrose Games, both of which were held at the NY Armory. At the Lafayette/Rider Invitational,  Asha Ruth (Bowie, Md.) won the long jump with an ECAC and BIG EAST mark of 5.96m/19’6.75”, followed by Emily Vargas (Clark, N.J.), who finished third with an ECAC and BIG EAST leap of 5.70m/18’8.5”.

The Scarlet Knights recorded a school record in the relays for the second straight week as the 4x400-meter group of Ruth, Corryn Hurrington (Bowie, Md.), Tylia Gillon (New Egypt, N.J.) and Gabrielle Farquharson (Williamstown, N.J.) set a Rutgers mark at the Millrose Games. RU won the Gotham Cup Metropolitan College Women’s 4x400, competing against St. John’s, St. Peters and Fordham. The group broke the school record with a time of 3:42.83, eclipsing the previous record of 3:45.4 which was set in 1982.

Rutgers will prepare for the 2012 BIG EAST Indoor Championships on Saturday, Feb. 18, at the Armory.

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