Landover, MD ? On Saturday and Sunday, the Robert Morris University women's indoor track team traveled south to Prince George's Complex for the 2009 NEC Indoor Championships presented by Road Runner Sports.  After the first day of competition, the Colonials held the second position, but finished sixth on Sunday in a strong field of 12 teams competing in 17 scored events.

Melitta Brown (York, Ontario / Sacred Heart)  once again put forth a stellar effort , competing in the finals of four different events.  In the 60 meter hurdles, Brown took seventh with her time of 9.12.  In the high jump, she took second with 1.67m.  She also picked up a second-place finish in long jump and a fourth-place result in the triple jump event.

In the 3000 meter event, Emily Ingle (Tyrone, Pa. / Tyrone) shattered a seven-year old school record by 14 seconds when she finished third with her personal best time of 10:20.74.

Also helping the Colonial effort was RMU's 4 x 400 meter relay.  The team, comprised of Samantha Simile (Washington, Pa. / Chartiers ? Houston), Hillary Monger (Reading, Pa / Holy Name), Debra Ostrander (Denton, Md. / North Carolina) and Aimee Ossler (Munhall, Pa. / Serra Catholic) finished the seventh spot with their time of 4:10.61.

Erica Schmidt (Pittsburgh, Pa. / Baldwin) had a successful weekend in the pole vault event.  Schmidt tied for seventh place with her jump of 3.00 meters.

With another top finish was freshman Gabriella Rinehart (Norristown, Pa. / Norristown Area).  The newcomer took fourth in the shot put when she threw for 12.98 meters.

In the weight throw, Ashley Turici (Zelienople, Pa. / Seneca Valley) put forth a fifth-place effort  as she threw 14.42 meters.

Overall, Monmouth took the NEC Indoor title with a total of 140.50 points.  Rounding out the top five were Long Island, Sacred Heart, Mount St. Mary's and Saint Francis (Pa.).