DURHAM, N.C.—The UMass Lowell track & field team battled wet and chilly conditions on Friday afternoon, as a flock of River Hawks hit the track at the Duke Invite.
 
Graduate student Emily Sessa (Tewksbury, Mass.) shone with a third-place performance in the women's 1,500m to open the day. Earning a top spot in a crowd of 63 competitors, Sessa dialed in to cross at 4:30.75.
 
"It was a tough day, weather-wise. It was 44 degrees and rainy for all our races," commented Head Coach Gary Gardner. "Emily ran a great 1,500m, placing second in her section and third overall."
 
Graduate student Izzy Giesing (Bradford, Vt.) stepped up to the starting line for the women's 1,500m invitational. Giesing clocked in at 4:26.85 to finish 19th overall in her outdoor season debut.
 
"Izzy had a really solid season opener," said Gardner.
 
On the men's side, graduate student Drew Everett (Amesbury, Mass.) and senior John Riley (Quincy, Mass.) both tackled the men's 5,000m. Everett cruised to a 14th-place time of 14:23.40 in his first crack at the distance event this season. Riley crossed the finish line seconds after, taking the 22nd spot with a final mark of 14:28.80.
 
"Drew got tripped up in the race, but he ran great considering," remarked Gardner.
 
The River Hawks are back in action next weekend, April 14-15, splitting time between the Ocean State Invitational hosted by Providence and the Northeast Challenge hosted by UConn.