By Cynthia Retamozo

The women’s track team took six first-place finishes to place second out of 18 teams overall at the 2007 Great Dane Classic at the Armory Track in New York City Friday.

“They performed extremely well,” said head coach Sherman Hart. “I was actually shocked at how well it turned out.”

The team’s effort included a new personal best by an NU athlete and a new Great Dane Classic record, as junior Kristie Gagnon placed first in the 5,000-meter with a time of 18:11.32, shattering the previous record by more than a minute.

Sophomore Amber Gibney placed sixth in the 800-meter (2:22.84) with senior Ashleigh Bordwell taking 12th (2:27.00). Senior Aquila Williams-Judge won the 55-meter hurdles (8.13) while junior Tramaine Shaw took fourth in the same event (8.27).

Meanwhile, senior Zara Northover placed first in the shot put with a distance of 15.85 meters, qualifying her for Nationals in the event. Northover also placed fourth in the weight throw (16.17 meters).

Sophomore Olivia Kalinowska and senior Erin Ballard placed first in their respective events. In the pole vault, Kalinowska hit 3.45 meters and Ballard took the 1,000-meter with a time of 3:00.17.

For the 55-meter dash, senior Shanae Henry placed second (7.06) with freshman Cosandria Walker placing fifth (7.23).

Hart said he was surprised at the performance, because both teams are taking a low-key approach to the indoor season to prepare and prevent injury for outdoor track.

The Huskies will host the collegiate division of the Reebok Boston Indoor Games at the Reggie Lewis Center this Friday at 4 p.m., with track events beginning at 5 p.m.

NU is the reigning champion, returning meet victors Ballard (1,000-meter run), Shaw (55-meter hurdles) and Northover (shot put).

The Huskies, who scored 169 in last year’s Reebok games, beat rivals Boston College (95.5), Southern Connecticut (94.75), South Florida (90) and eight other schools.