Jackie Kosakowski Wins ECAC Title in 3,000m Steeplechase

Jackie Kosakowski Wins ECAC Title in 3,000m Steeplechase

Tribe Competes on First Day of ECACs

PRINCETON, NJ - Senior Jackie Kosakowski (Sauquoit, NY) won the 3,000m steeplechase as 2005 CAA Champion William and Mary women's track and field competed Friday evening on the opening day of the ECAC Outdoor Championships. The Tribe is tied for fourth with Princeton after the first day of action with 10 points as Columbia leads the standings with 24 points. Points are awarded to the top-eight finishers in each event, who receive All-East honors. The prestigious meet, hosted by Princeton, attracts a large field of teams from across the Eastern U. S. and represents the last opportunity for athletes to set NCAA qualification times

Kosakowski won the ECAC title in the 3,000m steeplechase by shattering her personal record, clocking a 10:34.05 for the victory. Running under the NCAA Regional qualification time yet again, Kosakowski knocked some 15 seconds off her career-fast time to earn All-East honors in the event.

In the 10,000m, the Tribe saw two strong performances as senior Becca Velarde (Albuquerque, NM) just missed All-East honors in tenth (two spots shy of earning the accolades) by timing a personal best 36:42.49. Sophomore Christy Dannenberg (Reston, VA) also hit a personal record by running a 36:57.43 for 12th. Also qualified for competition today was sophomore Julia Cathcart (Starkville, MS) who finished 16th in the 5,000m with a 17:19.29

The ECAC Championships continue Saturday and Sunday.

Team Standings
1) Columbia University 24
2) James Madison University 12
3) University of New Hampshire 11
4) College of William and Mary
4) Princeton University 10
4) College of William and Mary 10
6) Duke University 9
7) Brown University 8
8) University of Pennsylvania 6
9) Yale University 5
9) University of Pittsburgh 5
9) West Virginia University 5
12) Lehigh University 3
12) Stony Brook University 3
14) University of Maryland 2
14) Cornell University 2
16) Harvard University 1
16) Binghamton University 1