Raleigh, N.C. - University at Albany's Jenn Pierson finished second in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase at the adidas Raleigh Relays on Saturday, March 26 at North Carolina State's Paul Derr Track.
     Pierson, the defending America East Conference champion, ran the fourth-fastest time in program history when she was clocked in 10:53.96. Jackie Kirby, competing unattached, won the race in 10:42.32, while Toledo's Amber Cushnie was third in 10:57.47.
     A senior from Binghamton, N.Y., Pierson's time was just under four seconds off the ECAC-qualifying standard. She placed 11th last year at the ECAC championship and advanced to the NCAA preliminary round.
     In the 10,000-meter run, Emily Fung and Melissa Del Rosario each finished in the top 25 and qualified for ECACs. Fung was 18th in 37:03.74, a time that ranks third on the all-time list. Del Rosario was 22nd in 37:18.74, the sixth-best mark by a UAlbany runner.