SPRINGFIELD, Mass.- February 22, 2007 -- Springfield College freshman Audrey Lastra (New Milford, CT) has been named this week’s Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III women’s gymnastics Freshman of the Week.

Audrey broke her school's All-Around women’s gymnastics record in an important 185.35-184.625 win on the road over SUNY Cortland last Sunday (February 18). For Lastra, it was the third consecutive meet in which she posted a school best, this time raising the bar with a score of 37.825.

Lastra saved her best performance to date for a match with a talented SUNY Cortland team. Springfield College had taken a one-point lead after two events and was able to hold on to that slim margin for the remaining two events.

Lastra placed in the top four in each of the day's events, including a win on vault with a 9.525 and a second place finish on beam, scoring 9.475. She placed fourth in both the bars (9.30) and floor exercise (9.525), with everything totaling together for a second place finish in the All-Around. Lastra set the previous school record against Ithaca on February 11 when she finished with a 37.575.

Also contributing to a Springfield College victory was the performance by Kristin Fairburn (Salem, N.H.) who won the bars event with a score of 9.575. Senior Heather Tuden (Londonderry, N.H.) placed second on floor (9.575), and sophomore Jacqueline Mazzola (Framingham, Mass.) tied for second on vault (9.50).

In addition to her all success at Cortland, Lastra helped pace the Pride the following day in a meet against Southern Connecticut State University with a fourth place finish in vault (9.35) and a second place and personal best on bars (9.55). Springfield edged out SCSU on the day 184.200-183.300, and Lastra's exceptional performances on consecutive days earned her honors as the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III Freshman of the Week.

published: 02/22/2007