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<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 1, 2017<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri;">Contact- Brendan Sullivan (401) 865-1245<o:p></o:p></p>
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<b>Paladino, Ilarda Qualify For NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships<o:p></o:p></b></p>
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<i>The Championships will take place on March 10-11 in College Station, Texas<o:p></o:p></i></p>
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<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri;"><b>PROVIDENCE, R.I. –
</b>The NCAA released the list of qualifiers for the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships on Feb. 28 and it includes juniors Millie Paladino (Morgantown, W. Va.) and Brianna Ilarda (Perth, Australia). Paladino qualified in the mile while Ilarda qualified
in the 5,000 meters. This is the first time that either Paladino or Ilarda have qualified for the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri;">In order to qualify the NCAA Championships, an individual must run a time that ranks in the top-16 in the nation.
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<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri;">Paladino has enjoyed a breakout season for the Friars. At the Boston University Valentine Invitational, Paladino ran a time of 4:34.49 in the mile. The time is the third fastest in
school history and is the 10<sup>th</sup> fastest in the nation this year. Paladino then followed this up by winning the mile at the BIG EAST Indoor Track and Field Championships. She is the first Providence woman to win the mile since Roisin McGettigan won
in 2002 and fourth winner in school history. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri;">Ilarda also had a standout indoor season for Providence as she set personal bests in the mile, 3,000 meters and 5,000 meters. Ilarda began the season at the Boston University Season
Opener, where she ran a time of 15:55.91. This time ranks 16<sup>th</sup> in the nation this year. Ilarda then won the Boston University Terrier Invitational with a time of 9:20.62. At the Boston University Valentine Invitational, Ilarda ran a personal best
time of 4:43.25 in the mile. Ilarda finished second at the BIG EAST Indoor Track and Field Championships in the 3,000 meters and led the Distance Medley Team to a second place finish.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri;">The NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships will take place on March 10-11 at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. Paladino will compete in the trials of the mile on Friday
March 10 at 6:30 p.m. Ilarda will race in the final of the 5,000 meters on March 10 at 9:00 p.m.<o:p></o:p></p>
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<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri;"><b>-GO FRIARS!- <o:p></o:p></b></p>
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