RALEIGH, N.C. -- Bentley University sophomore All-America Amy Varsell (Burlington, Conn./Lewis S. Mills HS) kicked off the outdoor track season Friday afternoon by breaking her own school record in the 400 meters during the adidas Raleigh Relays at North Carolina State University's Paul Derr Track.

Varsell, who finished fourth in the 800 earlier this month at the NCAA Division II Indoor Championships, won her heat with a time of 57.83 seconds, was fifth amongst Division II participants and placed 26th overall in a predominantly-Division I field of 118. Her time bettered the existing mark of 58.51 that she posted at the 2010 Stonehill Invitational.

Caitlin Fahey (Bridgewater, Mass./Coyle-Cassidy HS), also a sophomore, also competed in the 400 and posted a personal best time of 1:01.91. She was fourth in her heat and 91st overall.

In the 5000 meters, junior Evelyn Marrero (Amsterdam, N.Y./Amsterdam HS) and freshman Ashley Nichols (Kenmore, Wash./Inglemoor HS) became only the third and fourth runners in the program's history to break 18:20. Marrero was seventh of 24 in her section with a time of 18:13.73, a personal best by 16.39 seconds.  Nichols followed in 12th, her time of 18:17.51 in her collegiate debut outdoors a PR by 38 seconds.

The two ran together for two miles, with splits of 5:52 for one mile and 11:46 for two, before Marrero pulled away.

Overall, Marrero was 44th  of 80, and Nichols was 49th. Among Division II competitors, Marrero was seventh and Nichols ninth.

The massive meet continues on Saturday.