Elizabeth Pellegrini of Worcester, Mass., Named All-Region by USTFCCCA

2016 Apr 5

WPI's Elizabeth Pellegrini has been named All-Region by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

Unlike the All-New England awards traditionally handed out to the top eight finishers following the Division III New England Championships, honorees must either be ranked in the top-5 of an individual event in the region according to final TFRRS data or be part of a top-3 relay team.

"New England is one of the top 2-3 regions in the country for indoor track & field so to have two representatives on the All-Region team is a great accomplishment and a credit to the hard work our student-athletes and coaching staff put in every day," remarked Head Coach Brian Chabot.

Liz Pellegrini set the school record and was as ranked No. 6 nationally in the 200-meter dash following the BU Scarlet and White Invitational with a time of 25.33. This season also saw the local product help set the new 4x400-meter relay record (3:53.76) along with sophomore Sara Velleca (Woodbury, CT), senior Alex Price (Franklin, MA) and sophomore Lea Strangio (Watertown, MA) at the All-New England All Division Championships. Pellegrini had been previously named All-New England for the 4x400's second-place performance at the DIII New England meet and All-ECAC for a fourth-place finish in the 60-meter hurdles, as well as a third place finish with the 4x200-meter relay and a seventh-place showing in the 4x400.

Chabot added, "Liz has been the center piece for our women's team since last year. Her talent is immense and her versatility makes her an x-factor in any meet she is entered."

Warren Staver also logged his award-winning time at the Scarlet and White with a school-record 48.60 in the 400-meter dash. The sophomore also put his name on the wall with program-best times of 1:04.64 in the 500m and 1:21.38 in the 600m. Staver took home All-ECAC honors for a third-place finish in the 400 this past weekend.

"Warren was by far our most consistent performer all season," said Chabot. "He set school records for the 400m, 500m and 600m, while also qualifying for the Div. 3 New England Championships in the 800m and was a key cog as a member of our 4x400m. He's a weapon we hope utilize even more during the outdoor season."

About Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Founded in 1865 in Worcester, Mass., WPI is one of the nation's first engineering and technology universities. Its 14 academic departments offer more than 50 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science, engineering, technology, business, the social sciences, and the humanities and arts, leading to bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees. WPI's talented faculty work with students on interdisciplinary research that seeks solutions to important and socially relevant problems in fields as diverse as the life sciences and bioengineering, energy, information security, materials processing, and robotics. Students also have the opportunity to make a difference to communities and organizations around the world through the university's innovative Global Projects Program. There are more than 45 WPI project centers throughout the Americas, Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Europe.