Kamara Shines at Inaugural GNAC Track & Field Championships

Kamara Shines at Inaugural GNAC Track & Field Championships

BOSTON – On a historic day in GNAC and Suffolk track & field, Mariama Kamara made history herself with a personal best showing at first-ever GNAC Track & Field Championships Sunday afternoon at Regis Stadium.  

Kamara, a sophomore from Chelsea, Massachusetts, qualified for the finals of the 100 M dash after capturing her preliminary heat with a 12.86. In the finals, she upstaged her preliminary time with a personal-best of 12.77 to finish 2nd overall, finishing 0.22 behind Taymise Sanders of Newbury (12.55). As the top GNAC finisher, Kamara became the first-ever Ram to take home All-GNAC first-team honors. Dakhensey Marcellus joined Kamara in the 100 M field. The freshman put together a time of 14.05.  

Kamara anchored the Suffolk women's team to a sixth-place showing in the eight-team field.  

Emily Manfra, Michelle Kearney and Natalie Fay each represented the Rams in the 1500 M dash. Manfra fell just short of all-conference status as her 5:01.28 put her in second 0:00.24 second after Pearl Vercruysse of Emmanuel. Kearney crossed the tape in 5:55.14, while Fay clocked in at 6:12.13. 

In the 800 M, Manfra was just shy of the top six in the 800 M run as the sophomore's time of 2:40.74 was 0.21:72 short to put the sophomore in seventh out of the 12 competitors.  

On the men's side, Nicholas Nunez raced in the 400 M Dash (58.41; 13th) and Paulo Guedes ran in the 1500 M (4:49.18; 11th). 

Matthew Sambuceti was the only field competitor on either side for the Rams. He tossed the shot put 8.76 M and threw the discus 25.88 M. Those distances were good for 14th and 10th, respectively.