BOSTON, Mass. – Without question, graduate student Emily Mackay and senior Aziza Chigatayeva have become two of the most accomplished women's distance runners in Binghamton track & field program history. On Friday afternoon at the John Thomas Terrier Classic at the Boston University Track & Tennis Center, the Bearcat duo continued their historic careers in impressive fashion.

Running in a field of 105 runners in the 3,000-meter event (which was divided into seven heats), Mackay was third overall with a time of 8:54.45 while Chigatayeva was 16th with a time of 9:29.04. In the process, Mackay turned in the fourth-fastest time in that event at the NCAA Division I level so far this season while Chigatayeva's performance currently ranks No. 26.

Mackay was the top collegiate performer in the event, finishing behind a pair of unattached runners in the opening heat. Annie Rodenfels of BAA/adidas was first (8:52.84) and Taylor Werner of the Puma Running Elite Team was second (8:52.86).

This year's top NCAA Division I time is 8:52.52 by Ceili McCabe of West Virginia. She is followed in the rankings by Katelyn Tuohy (8:.54.17) and Samantha Bush (8:54.37), both of whom are from N.C. State.

Chigateyeva, meanwhile, ran in the second of seven heats on Friday in Boston and finished in sixth place.

Both Binghamton runners finished well below the program record of 9:50.33, which Chigateyeva recorded during 2019 indoor season.

Mackay now has three of the top performances in the nation so far this season. She clocked the fastest 800 time at the NCAA Division I level two weeks ago at the Lehigh Angry Birds Invitational (2:04.78) and the best mile time last week at Penn State National Open (4:32.55). In addition, her 5,000 meter time of 15:44.93 – which she recorded at the Boston University Season Opener on Dec. 4 – currently ranks No. 14 at the Division I level.

Chigatayeva clocked a mile time of 4:51.02 at the Penn State National Open, which is the second-best time in Binghamton program history.

Binghamton will be represented at three other meets on Saturday. Graduate student Dan Schaffer will compete in the invitational mile at the Millrose Games at 2:13 p.m. The Bearcats will also have athletes at the Cornell/Marc DeNault Meet and the Penn State/Sykes & Sabock Challenge.