Feb. 20, 2008

AMHERST, Mass. - Last Saturday, senior Christina DeRosa (Sound Beach, N.Y.) turned in her best performance of the season after taking second place in the 5000 meter run at the Atlantic 10 Indoor Championships. With a time of 16:49.99, DeRosa posted a NCAA Provisional Qualifying time. As a result, DeRosa now ranks twentieth in the nation according to the NCAA. Junior Sally Kipyego from Texas Tech currently ranks number one in the nation with a time of 15:32.09. The NCAA Championships will take place March 14-15 in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

In addition to the NCAA Provisional Qualifying time, DeRosa broke the UMass record that was held by Kelly Liljeblad, who set the record back in 1995 with a time of 16:44.73. DeRosa now holds the fastest time at UMass and broke her previous record of 17:22.96 that she set last season. DeRosa's time also qualified her for the New England Championships and the ECAC. DeRosa topped of the weekend with a second place finish in the in the 3000 meter run with a time of 9:55.18.

DeRosa has consistently turned in strong performances all season long. Back on February 8, DeRosa placed ninth in the 3000 meter run at the BU Valentine Invitational. With a time of 9:49.36, now holds the third fastest time at UMass and also qualified her for the New England Championships and the ECAC.

DeRosa will have this weekend off and then head to Boston for the New England Championships on February 29.

Event 23  Women 5000 Meter Run         ** Auto: 16:08.00 **
RANK ATHLETE                 YR SCHOOL                    SEED TIME  DATE
==== ======================= == ======================= =========== =====
  1  Sally Kipyego           JR Texas Tech                15:32.09  02-15
  2  Lisa Koll               SO Iowa St.                  15:52.37  02-15
  3  Katrina Rundhaug        SR Wisconsin                 16:00.96  02-16
  4  Diane Nukuri            SR Iowa                      16:10.71  02-16
  5  Wendi Robinson          SO Indiana                   16:16.23  01-25
  6  Alyson Kohlmeier        JR Michigan                  16:16.73  02-08
  7  Katie VanHorn           JR Tennessee                 16:24.28  02-15
  8  Danette Doetzel         JR Providence                16:26.25  01-25
  9  Lara Crofford           FR Nebraska                  16:28.08  02-15
 10  Rachel Papin            SR La Salle               *  16:30.54  02-16
 11  Alexandra Gits          FR Stanford                  16:31.18  02-01
 12  Denise Bargiachi        JR Arkansas                  16:31.35  02-01
 13  Morgan Haws             JR Weber St.                 16:36.04  02-16
 14  Beverly Ramos           SO Kansas State              16:36.29  02-15
 15  Hanna Grinaker          SO Wisconsin                 16:36.86  02-16
 16  Sarah Madebach          JR Georgia                   16:37.54  02-15
 17  Cecily Lemmon           SO BYU                       16:39.88  02-08
 18  Betty Rotich            JR Alabama                   16:40.17  02-15
 19  Katie Harrington        JR Stanford                  16:40.33  02-16
 20  Christina DeRosa        SR Massachusetts          *  16:41.39  02-16
 21  Grace Kemmey            JR Iowa St.                  16:41.65  02-15
 22  Jolly Burke             SO Iowa                      16:43.14  02-16
 23  Caitlin Chrisman        SR Wake Forest               16:44.98  02-15