SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- Senior Danielle Poto (North Andover, Mass.) captured the New England title in the 10,000-meter run to lead the Bridgewater State University women's track & field team during day one of the 2016 Division III New England Outdoor Track & Field Championships hosted by Springfield College on Friday.

Poto posted a season-best time of 35:59.46 in the 10,000 as she beat out runner-up Mary Eccles of MIT by just over six seconds. Poto was also just under ten seconds off Molly Rouillard's BSU school mark of 35:49.99 set in 2013.

Freshman Jayci Andrews (Plymouth, Mass.) also garnered All-New England honors for the Bears as she placed seventh in the long jump with a leap of 17 feet, 6.25 inches (5.34m).

Andrews also qualified for the finals of the 100-meter hurdles as she finished third in the preliminaries with a time of 15.07 seconds. Senior Ariele Krevosky (Oxford, Mass.) also qualified for finals of the 100-meter hurdles as she record a preliminary time of 15.55 seconds to place eighth.

The Division III New England Championship meet continues on Saturday. The Bears are tied for second place along with Middlebury College after four scored events with 12 points. MIT leads the way with 42 points.