By Jim Fenton

BOSTON, Mass. -- Senior Kiara Abrantes (Somerset, Mass.) broke the school record in the 500-meter dash as the Bridgewater State University women's indoor track & field team competed on Saturday at the season-opening Early Bird Invitational held at The Track at New Balance.

The meet included competitors from Divisions 1, 2 and 3.

Abrantes posted a time of 1:15.71 as she eclipsed the previous program mark of 1:18.70 set by Becca Geldmacher in 2014. She finshed behind only Sydney Federico of Division I University of Rhode Island, who crossed the line in 1:15.48.

Abrantes was also on the 4x400 relay team that was seventh in 4:33.7. She was joined by freshman Bella Grover (Warren, Mass.), senior Kate Brown (Acushnet, Mass.) and senior Ana Imrie (Arlington, Mass.).

Graduate student Jailene Escalera (Rockland, Mass.) was eighth in the 60 with a time of 8.07, finishing second among Division 3 runners.

Escalera was also ninth in the 200 with a time of 26.33.

Junior Naomi Cass (Westport, Mass.) took 10th in the 5,000 with a time of 18:07.57 while graduate student Juliana Patrone (Wilmington, Mass.) was 10th in the high jump (4-11).

Abrantes qualified for the NEICAAA Championships in the 500, while Escalera qualified for the Division III New England Championships in both the 60 and 200, and Cass qualifield for DIII New Englands in the 5,000.

BSU will return to action on Jan. 11 in Boston at the Suffolk Invitational.