Inacio, Sands Compete at Tufts Final Qualifier

By Jim Fenton

MEDFORD, Mass. -- Bridgewater State University sophomore Grace Inacio (Taunton, Mass.) earned a first-place finish at the Tufts University Final Qualifier Saturday.

Inacio was the winner for the Bears' women's indoor track & field team in the 200-meter race with a time of 24.91 seconds. She edged out Olivia Carney of Trinity College at the Gantcher Family Sports and Convocation Center.

Inacio began the weekend ranked 19th in the NCAA Division III standings with a time of 24.68.

This was her third victory in the 200 during the winter season.

The NCAA will announce the partipants in the national championship meet on Sunday at 7 p.m. The NCAAs take place on Friday and Saturday in Birmingham, Ala.

The meet at Tufts provides a last chance for indoor track & field athletes to reach a qualifying standard for the upcoming NCAAs.

BSU graduate student Serenity Sands (East Bridgewater, Mass.) finished ninth in the high jump at Tufts.

Sands ended her track & field career at BSU with a jump of 5 feet, 1 inch.

The winner was Marin Simons of Southern Virginia with a leap of 5 feet, 6 inches.

Sands, who returned to the Bears for one final season of eligibility this winter, leaves the program after earning two NCAA Division III first team All-American honors (2024 and 2025) during the indoor seasons and one second-team honor last spring.

She owns the BSU indoor record in the high jump at 5 feet, 8 and 1/2 inches.

BSU senior Kiara Abrantes (Somerset, Mass.) entered the weekend ranked fifth in the 400-meter run with a time of 55.24 seconds and 17th in the 200 (24.66). She will be competing in the NCAAs next week.