NEWTON, Mass. (4/6/15) - The Lasell College women and men's track and field team opened their 2015 outdoor season with the Jim Sheehan Invitational this past weekend at Fitchburg State University.

For the men, senior Kyle Northtrop (Bellingham, Mass.) ran a career-best in the 800m race, finishing at 2:10.04. Northrop flew past his previous record achieved in 2014 by 1:32. 

Freshman Nick Garifalos (Spotswood, N.J.) set a new mark in the men's 5,000m run, placing 19th out of 27 with a final time of 17:13.27.

Junior Andrew Panther (Cheshire, Conn.) posted a 12.67 in the 100m run, placing 5th in the heat finals and 37th overall. In the 400m, sophomore Shawn Woodworth (Concord, N.H.) ran an outdoor personal best at 59.16, cutting his previous record by .72 seconds. 

For the field events, sophomore Michael Rudin threw the javelin 40.52m, while senior Tyler Schwabe (Ayer, Mass.) chucked the discuss 30.04m.

For the women, sophomore Amy MacDonald (Burlington, Mass.) had a standout performance, setting two Lasell College women's track and field outdoor records. MacDonald finished the 1,500m in 5:29.08, running past the previous record by 23.11. Junior Rachel Knuth (Warwick, N.Y.) Later in the meet, MacDonald ran the 5,000m and finished at 20:58.49.

For the sprinters, senior Melissa Cooley (Huntington Beach, Calif.) led the Lasers in the 100m, placing fourth in the heat and 37th overall at 14.43. 

The Lasers will travel to Northhampton, Mass. for the Smith College Invitational on Saturday, April 11.