MAHWAH, N.J. – Members of the University of New Haven men’s and women’s outdoor track and field team opened the 2011 outdoor season at the Second Annual Ramapo College Roadrunner Invitational Saturday in New Jersey. Fresh off her three National Championships, senior sprinter Shannon Gagne won the women’s 100-meter dash, while helping to lead the women’s 4×100 team to a victory as well. Kevin Downing and Ada Udaya also won events at their first performances of the spring.

Gagne won the 100-meter dash in a meet and UNH record time of 11.90 seconds. The time is a provisional qualifying mark for the NCAA’s as well. Udaya finished is second place in the 100-meter with a time of 12.19 seconds. The freshman went on to win the 200-meter dash with a time of 24.71, nearly one second faster than the second place finisher.

The two teamed with Alissa Howell and Monica Yanez in the women’s 4×100 meter relay and won the event in a meet and UNH record time of 47.63 seconds. The mark was just two-tenths of a second away from the NCAA provisional mark.

Also competing for the women was sophomore thrower Shraya Manick. She finished fourth in the shot put with a throw of 11.71-meters, breaking the UNH record. Manick also finished fourth in the hammer throw with a toss of 46.14-meters.

On the men’s side, Kevin Downing won a pair of events. The sophomore won the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.79 seconds, just two-tenths of a second away from the NCAA provisional mark. He also won the 200-meter dash with a meet record time of 21.98 seconds.

The Chargers also competed at the Coast Guard Invitational on Saturday. For complete results, return to www.NewHavenChargers.com.

New Haven’s men’s and women’s track and field teams will return to action on Saturday, April 9 at the George Davis Invitational hosted by UMass Lowell.