Boston, MA --- The WPI track and field team kicked off its 2023-24 campaign at Boston College's Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener on Saturday. Eight Engineers raced at the event, which was held at the BU Track & Tennis Center.
 
Sophomore Thomas Skerry (Dedham, MA) opened his season with a strong finish in the 800-meter race, taking 13th out of 44 runners, clocking in at 1:57.42 as the first Division III runner across the line and qualified for postseason competition. 
 
In the mile, graduate student Charlotte Kokernak (Niskayuna, NY) placed 43rd on the women's side, going 5:20.07, and was also the top Division III finisher. Senior Jarrett Gulden (Walpole, ME) ran the men's event, clocking in at 4:31.16 to place 54th.
 
Four Engineers raced in the 3,000-meter event, led by graduate student Elise Deshusses (Chapel Hill, NC), who ran a 10:07.20 to place 101st. Graduate students Rachel Hurley (Peterborough, NH) and Amelia Kokernak (Niskayuna, NY) were next across the line for the Engineers, finishing in 10:15.07 and 10:17.47. The trio of Deshusess, Hurley and Kokernak earned postseason qualifications and recorded personal bests in today's race. Senior Caitlin Guilfoyle (Hastings-on-Hudson, NY) recorded a time of 10:39.23.
 
Rounding out the action for WPI, graduate student Grace Hadley (North Reading, MA) returned to action after an All-American cross country campaign, clocking in at 16:44.61 in the 5,000-meter event to claim the school record previously held by Sarah Bellfy '04 (18:07.29). The record-breaking effort clinched a spot in postseason action and currently ranks fifth in NCAA Division III in the event. 
 
 
The Engineers will break until the new year, next competing on Saturday, January 13 at the Wheaton Lyons Invitational. 
 
Results