Stephanie Mattson
Stephanie Mattson

Mattson Wins Twice During UNH Wildcat Invitational; NCAA Provisional Qualifier in Long Jump

DURHAM, N.H. – Bentley University senior Stephanie Mattson (Smithfield, R.I./Smithfield HS) won two events and provisionally qualified for the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the long jump during the University of New Hampshire Wildcat Invitational Saturday.

Mattson cleared 19 feet, 2.5 inches in the long jump with a winning margin of 19.5 inches. It was a personal best and the best in the Northeast-10 this season, but won't be recognized as a school record as it was wind-aided.

Mattson's other victory came in the 400 meters as she broke the tape 1.1 seconds ahead of runner-up Elise Renahan of New Hampshire. Her time of 58.67 seconds put her at number five on the NE10 performance list.

Junior Dom Balzora-Rivera (Templeton, Mass./Narragansett Reg. HS) finished third in the 100 meters (a wind-aided 12.60) and fifth in the 200 (26.59, also wind-aided). Her time in the 100 ranks ninth on the NE10 performance list. She was also fifth in the triple jump, clearing 32'2.75".

Freshman Megan Niedziecki (Old Orchard Beach, Maine/Old Orchard Beach HS) improved on her PR in the shot by more than three feet with a heave of 30'9.75". That put her sixth among nine competitors. Another PR was bettered by classmate Kaitlyn Helfer (Floral Park, N.Y./Archbishop Molloy HS) with a 1:04.28 in the 400.

In the team standings, Bentley was fourth with 57 points, trailing New Hampshire (206), Maine (184) and Holy Cross (150).

Next Saturday, Bentley will compete in both the Triton Invitational in San Diego and the Southern New Hampshire Invitational.