CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – Graduate student Rosie Clarke shattered a school record and led the Iona College women’s outdoor track team at the 2015 Virginia Challenge hosted by the University of Virginia. Clarke was the top collegiate finisher in the 1,500-meter run.
Clarke’s time of 4:12.10 was good for third overall behind two professional runners. She topped North Carolina’s Lianne Farber by more than a second. The time is the third fastest time in the NCAA this season. The 2015 NCAA Indoor All-American and Iona indoor mile record holder lowered the Gaels’ outdoor 1,500-meter record by more than seven seconds. Former Gael standout and reigning Australian 1,500-meter national champion Heidi Gregson set the school record with a 4:19.14 at the 2010 NCAA Championship in Greensboro, NC. Senior Marlene Delices (61st, 4:33.81) and freshman Natalie Holder (85th, 4:48.59) also competed in the event.
Freshmen Jessica Scheriff and Rachel Garn both finished in the Top 15 in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Scheriff was 12th in 11:02.80 while Garn was two spots behind her teammate in 14th place (11:23.58).
Rounding out Iona’s performers in Virginia were junior Melissa Hawtin in the 5,000-meter run (37th, 17:36.45) and Delices in the 800-meter event (38th, 2:12.45).
Virginia Challenge
Charlottesville, VA – Univ. of Virginia
Apr. 17-18, 2015
Iona Competitors:
800: Marlene Delices, 38th, 2:12.45. 1500: Rosie Clarke, 3rd, 4:12.10; Marlene Delices, 61st, 4:33.81; Natalie Holder, 85th, 4:48.59. 5k: Melissa Hawtin, 37th, 17:36.45. 3k chase: Jessica Scheriff, 12th, 11:02.80; Rachel Garn, 14th, 11:23.58.
