BOSTON, Mass. – The Saint Joseph's College women's track and field team delivered the best Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Championship performance in program history on Sunday, scoring 156 points to finish second overall at the 2026 GNAC Indoor Championship at Boston University's Track & Tennis Center. The Monks trailed champion Emmanuel (Mass.), who won the meet with 165 points.
"Our women delivered a day for the record books, bringing home the first hardware in program history," said Head Coach Mike Burleson. "They put the team above themselves and competed with heart from start to finish. Watching their growth — mentally and physically — has been something truly special. I couldn't be more proud of this group and can't wait to see what's next."
"I thought this was one of our best days all year from a mental standpoint," added Associate Head Coach Troy Hendricks. "We've talked a lot about how to respond to the good, the great, and the tough moments, and our women handled every situation with composure. There were multiple times throughout the meet where their performances gave me chills. It was a special day, and it sets the tone for what this group can be moving forward."
TEAM SCORES
- Emmanuel (Mass.) – 165
- Saint Joseph's (Maine) – 156
- Regis (Mass.) – 64
- Colby-Sawyer – 48
- Lasell – 33
- Simmons – 21
SPRINTS
The Monks were outstanding in the short and long sprints, piling up points in the 60, 200, and 400 meters.
In the 60 meters, sophomore Ellie Leech (Berwick, Maine) advanced through the prelims and placed fifth in the final in 8.52, adding two points to the team total. Freshman Emma Jones (Poland, Maine) ran 8.71 for 10th in prelims, followed by junior Alexis Cowan (Nottingham, N.H.) in 8.83 (14th), first-year sprinters Kaitlin Tallman (8.86 / 15th), Hallye King (Owls Head, Maine) (8.99 / 18th), and Ruthie Gusler (Phillips, Maine) (9.17 / 20th), while junior Alayah Schmitz (Scarborough, Maine) clocked 9.49 (24th) as the Monks showed depth in the short dash.
The 200 meters was one of the Monks' biggest scoring events. Junior Ava Smart (South Portland, Maine) placed second in 26.93, a New England Division III provisional mark, while junior Audrey Bilodeau (Lewiston, Maine) finished fourth in 27.68. Freshman Olivea Miller (Livermore Falls, Maine) took seventh in 28.02, and Jones added an eighth-place finish in 28.07 as Saint Joseph's placed four athletes in the top eight. Sophomore Madalyn Guindon (Saco, Maine) rounded out the event in 30.93.
In the 400 meters, Smart claimed the GNAC title with a winning time of 1:00.63, another New England Division III provisional performance. Freshman Amber Pendleton (Warren, Maine) joined her on the podium with a third-place finish in 1:01.47, also under the New England Division III provisional standard. Miller capped the sprint group's effort with an eighth-place time of 1:04.29.
MID-DISTANCE & DISTANCE
The mid-distance crew continued its strong championship season with another big scoring day.
In the 800 meters, sophomore Bella Koepsell (Falmouth, Maine) led the way with a runner-up finish in 2:27.38, with Pendleton close behind in third at 2:28.41. Senior Alexia Young (Rochester, N.H.) added a fifth-place finish in 2:30.76, and sophomore Cheri Willems (Belchertown, Mass.) placed eighth in 2:35.95 to give the Monks four athletes in the top eight.
Koepsell doubled back in the mile and delivered another podium finish, placing second in 5:32.39 to add eight more points to the team total.
HURDLES
Bilodeau once again led the way in the 60-meter hurdles, capturing the GNAC title and adding another New England Division III provisional time.
The junior ran 9.73 in the prelims to comfortably advance, then dropped her time to 9.46 in the final to secure the win and ten points for Saint Joseph's. Guindon joined her in the final, placing sixth in 10.64 to add another point for the Monks.
RELAYS
Saint Joseph's came up big in both relays, using depth and balance across all event groups to generate more scoring opportunities.
The distance medley relay of Koepsell, Willems, Young, and Pendleton took control of the race and never looked back, winning the GNAC title in 13:53.82 and adding ten crucial points to the team score.
In the 4x400-meter relay, Smart, Jones, Olivia Bean (South Portland, Maine), and Bilodeau combined to place third in 4:20.60, closing the meet with another six points and a strong team performance on the track.
JUMPS
The Monks' jumpers delivered one of their best collective efforts of the year, scoring heavily in the horizontal and vertical jumps and adding multiple New England Division III provisional marks.
In the high jump, junior Breya Whitman (Auburn, Maine) and Miller both cleared 1.51m (4' 11.5") with Whitman placing second and Miller fourth on attempts. Sophomore Berkley Hutchins (Springfield, Vt.) added a clearance of 1.41m (4' 7.5") for eighth.
Saint Joseph's dominated the long jump, led by sophomore Ella Labrie (Gorham, Maine), who claimed the GNAC title with a New England Division III provisional mark of 5.07m (16' 7.75"). Miller followed with a third-place leap of 4.81m (15' 9.5"), and Cowan added a sixth-place finish at 4.74m (15' 6.75"). Freshman Natalie Young (Rochester, N.H.) placed eighth at 4.55m (14' 11.25"), with Bean (4.53m / 10th), King (4.27m / 13th), Tallman (4.21m / 14th), Gusler (4.07m / 15th), junior Selena Huot (3.70m / 12' 1.75" / 16th), and junior Samira Mohamed (Westbrook, Maine) (3.41m / 11' 2.25" / 18th) rounding out a deep field.
In the triple jump, Bean and Labrie led another strong showing, going 1–2 for Saint Joseph's. Bean won the GNAC title with a New England Division III provisional mark of 10.57m (34' 8.25"), while Labrie finished second at 10.55m (34' 7.5"), also a New England Division III provisional performance. Whitman recorded a best of 9.66m (31' 8.5") for 7th, and Cowan posted 9.57m (31' 4.75") for 9th. Mohamed added a mark of 8.25m (27' 1") to complete the Monks' triple jump entries.
In the pole vault, Huot, Young, and Jordan Huntley all recorded attempts at 2.15m but came away with no height.
THROWS
The Monks' throwers came up big when it mattered most, scoring in both the shot put and weight throw with another New England Division III provisional effort in the circle.
Leech highlighted the shot put with a GNAC title-winning throw of 11.23m (36' 10.25"), a New England Division III provisional mark. Sophomore Jemima Kabangu added a runner-up finish at 10.91m (35' 9.5"), also under the New England Division III provisional standard. Hutchins placed fourth with a best of 9.85m (32' 3.75"), while junior Haley Lang added 8.25m (27' 1") for 11th and freshman Grace Cunningham (Burnham, Maine) threw 7.94m (26' 0.75") for 14th.
In the weight throw, Hutchins and Cunningham led another strong effort. Hutchins placed fourth with a mark of 11.41m (37' 5.25"), and Cunningham finished fifth at 11.21m (36' 9.5"). Lang added a best of 9.54m (31' 3.75") for 7th, while Kabangu recorded 9.53m (31' 3.25") for 8th and Willems threw 6.81m (22' 4.25") to round out the group.
FULL RESULTS
Women's 60 Meters (Prelims)
Women's 60 Meters (Finals)
Women's 200 Meters
Women's 400 Meters
Women's 800 Meters
Women's Mile
Women's 60-Meter Hurdles (Prelims)
Women's 60-Meter Hurdles (Finals)
Women's Distance Medley Relay
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Koepsell, Willems, Young, Pendleton – 13:53.82 (1st, 10 pts)
Women's 4x400-Meter Relay
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Smart, Jones, Bean, Bilodeau – 4:20.60 (3rd, 6 pts)
Women's High Jump
Women's Pole Vault
Women's Long Jump
Women's Triple Jump
Women's Shot Put
Women's Weight Throw
The runner-up finish and 156-point total cap a historic indoor GNAC campaign for the Monks, who will now turn their attention toward postseason opportunities and the upcoming outdoor season.
