CHESTER, Pa.- The Messiah Track and Field team competed at Widener University for the Danny Curran Invitational on March 31st and April 1st. The Falcons continued to add Middle Atlantic Conference qualifying performances to the season's list thus far while achieving a number of top-ten finishes.
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The Falcons will return to action when they travel to nearby York College of Pennsylvania on Wednesday, April 5th for the York Twilight Meet
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Friday Night
In the 5000 Meter,
Katie Anthony earned a sixth-place finish, crossing the line in 18:25.95 to add her second MAC qualifying event on the young season. She was joined in the top 20 by
Ali Schutte (12th, 19:01.07) and
Amber Swaisgood (19:49.84). Schutte bettered her previous best that she ran at the 2022 Danny Curran Invitational by 10 seconds and Swaisgood reached the MAC qualifying time in the event.
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Connor Coggins finished 17th in her 10,000 Meter Run debut, crossing the line in a MAC qualifying time of 41:23.28.
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Leah Ferster added a second MAC qualifying event to her season after throwing a mark of 9.82 meters in the Shot Put.
Saturday Results
The action continued on Saturday for Day Two of the Danny Curran Invitational. Messiah saw a number of top-ten finishes highlight a day of MAC qualifying performances.
On the Track
Halle Jennett lead the way on the track, earning a seventh-place finish in the 200 Meter Dash, crossing the line in a time of 26.22. Arwyn Gruenwald (27.47) and Gracie Barton (30.27) also ran well for the Falcons. All three ran new personal bests in the event.
The trio also ran the 100 Meter Dash, with Jennett finishing in a time of 13.08 to earn 10th and another personal best. Gruenwald (13.40) added a MAC qualifying time while Barton finished in a time of 14.48.
Helen Blakesee ran a MAC qualifying time in the 1500 Meter, finishing in 4:45.00. That time earns her a spot on the Top Ten list with the ninth fastest time at Messiah.
Messiah added an eighth-place finish in the 100 Meter Hurdles with Kara Brown running a new best of 16.15. Claire Miller (12th, 16.50) and Clara Benner (17.69) both had strong showings in the hurdles.
The three returned later in the day to take on the 400 Meter Hurdles. Leading the way was Benner who earned 13th with a final time of 1:09.93, a new personal best. Brown added a personal best, crossing the line in a time of 1:12.48 while Miller ran a season best of 1:14.12.
In the 400 Meter Dash, Emma Graybill (1:01.44) and Kerrigan Lebo (1:01.74) both ran new personal bests and Graybill earned a place at MACs for her first event of the season. Cassidy Chandler finished the 400 Meter in a time of 1:03.41.
Four Falcons surpassed the MAC qualifying time in the 800 Meter, with Alyssa Nori leading the way with an 11th place finishing time of 2:22.37. Kathleen Walstrom (2:26.92), Laura Kruth (2:27.88), and Olivia Cory (2:28.74) all beat the time as well. Natalie Hamlen was a few seconds short, crossing the line in a time of 2:32.06.
Messiah finished the day with two 4x400 Meter Relay teams earning top-ten finishes in the event. The A-Team of Kerrigan Lebo, Kathleen Walstrom, Alyssa Nori, and Laura Kruth combined for a time of 4:16.63 to earn seventh. Kara Brown, Clara Benner, Olivia Cory, and Julia Rickard combined for a ninth-place finish for the B-Team, crossing in a time of 4:24.91.
In the Field
There were a number of top-ten finishes in the field Saturday afternoon. In the Pole Vault, Noelle Crowley's final height of 2.80 meters earned her the eighth-place finish. Hannah Witter (10th) and Olivia Call (12th) both finished the day with a jump of 2.65 and were awarded places determined by attempts taken.
In the Javelin Throw, three Falcons threw season bests while one had a new personal best distance. Ruby Ramsey (seventh, 32.20) threw a season best while edging out teammate Macey Wolfe (eighth, 31.98) who threw a new personal best. Brynn Gaugler (30.88) and Evangeline Soerens (22.95) both had season bests in the event.
Leah Ferster finished with a mark of 29.23 in the Hammer Throw.
Up Next
The Messiah Track and Field team will travel to nearby York College of Pennsylvania on Wednesday, April 5th for the York Twilight Meet
