TUCSON, AZ (March 19, 2010) – With three new school records set on Friday, the Vassar College women's track and field team had an auspicious start to its season at the Willie Williams Classic hosted by University of Arizona during the Brewers' Spring Break training trip.

“This was a great week of training out in the desert, capped off by a great meet,” said head coach James McCowan. “ The winds were heavy in the afternoon, but conditions for the twilight meet were excellent.”

The Brewers fared well in the 5,000m as sophomore Johanna Spangler placed third with a personal best and school record time of 17:54.58 while classmate Elizabeth Forbes recorded a personal best of her own with a time of 18:54.28.

“This was a tremendous race for these two and a strong sign of what is to come,” said McCowan. “This was our first week where we could train on a track and our first race since the cross country season. Their improvement was nothing short of phenomenal.”

In the 3,000m steeplechase junior Brittany Davis notched a personal best and school record, finishing eighth in a competitive field of Division I runners with a time of 12:27.23.

“Brittany ran controlled and smooth, taking a more conservative start and moving up as the race unfolded,” said McCowan. “It was an excellent first race and as she has more opportunity to hurdle she will run even raster.”

In her first collegiate track meet and her first attempt at the event, freshman Kelly Holmes finished fourth in her heat of the 1,500m, setting a new Vassar record with a time of 4:53.

“Kelly's time in the 1,500 was equivalent to besting her personal best in the mile by ten seconds,” said McCowan. “Clearly we have only begun to see what she is capable of.”

Also competing in the 1,500m were senior Nina Huang and sophomore Melissa McClung who had strong times of 5:20 and 5:23, respectively.

“Overall, this was our most successful spring break competition and the entire trip was an excellent time for the team,” said McCowan.

The Brewers return to action at the RPI Invitational next Saturday, March 27.