WESTFIELD, Mass. -- Junior Samantha Richner (Hanson, Mass.) eclipsed a 36-year old school mark in the high jump to lead the Bridgewater State University women's outdoor track & field team at the Jerry Gravel Classic hosted by Westfield State University on Saturday.
Richner placed first in the high jump with a leap of five feet, 6.5 inches (1.69m) as she broke the previous outdoor mark of five feet, six inches set by BSU Hall of Famer Judy Smith in 1980 and equaled by Smith in 1981 and Richner in 2014.
Richner, who is tied for fourth in all of Division III in the high jump, qualified for all three regional postseason meets in the event.
The Bears' 4x100-meter relay featuring Richner, classmates Alexa Hambly (Middleboro, Mass.) and Traci Perry (Middleboro, Mass.) and freshman Jayci Andrews (Plymouth, Mass.) broke the school record and finished second at the meet with a time of 49.58 seconds. The foursome eclipsed the previous BSU outdoor mark of 49.82 seconds set in 2013 and equaled last season.
Andrews also captured top honors in the 200-meter dash with a time of 26.09 seconds.
Junior Kristyn Grattan (Hanover, Mass.) was the other event winner for the Bears. Grattan was the first to cross the line in the 1,500-meter run as she posted a time of 5:05.34.
Senior Ariele Krevosky (Oxford, Mass.) placed second in the 100-meter hurdles (15.51) and third in the long jump (16'7"/5.05m). Krevosky qualified for the Division III New England Championships in both events, and the ECAC Division III Championships in the hurdles.
Junior Amanda Lane (Abington, Mass.) finished third in the high jump with an ECAC Championships qualifying mark of five feet, 2.5 inches (1.59m).
The Bears placed third in the team standings with 137.5 points.
The season continues for the BSU outdoor track & field teams next Friday as the Bears travel to Eastern Connecticut State University for the 8th Annual ECSU Invitational. Several members of the squad will be competing at the Larry Ellis Invitational hosted by Princeton University also on Friday.