Targie Gervais in lane 3 in the 60 meter final.
Westfield State sophomore Targie Gervais (Springfield, MA/Central) placed second in the nation in the women’s 60-meter dash at the NCAA Division III women’s indoor track and field championships on Saturday, held at North Central College in Napierville, Ill.
Gervais ran her fastest-ever time of 7.61 seconds, a school record.
“Targie had a great start, and was closing ground on the winner late, and it was a photo finish” said Westfield State coach Sean O’Brien. “She just ran out of track. If Targie had another 2-3 meters she would have likely won.”
Gervais earns all-America honors with her finish.
The race was won by Sasha Henry of Buffalo State in a time of 7.60, one-one hundredth faster than Gervais to win the photo.
GERVAIS
Pole vaulter Tom Gauger also took home all-America status clearing 16 feet, 1/2 inch to tie for fourth. The height was a season-best for Gauger, who earned all-America honors at last years outdoor meet as well. He had entered the meet seeded ninth.
Westfield State senior Brendan Corcoran also competed at the NCAAs, finishing 13th in the 800 meters.
Gervais missed becoming Westfield’s fourth student-athlete to win a national championship by the narrowest of margins. Marlee Berg won the indoor high jump in 2009. Claudine Rice won the hammer throw in 1994 and Cindy Sturm Menard won the cross country race in 1982 and the 3000 meters in 1983.
“I’m happy, she’s happy, we’re all happy, and looking forward to the outdoor season” said O’Brien.
