LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Messiah Women's Track and Field team was in action on Friday, Jan. 31 and Saturday, Feb. 1 for the 26th Annual Bison Open and Multi hosted by Bucknell University. In a field comprised of teams across all three divisions, the Falcons looked to compete strong. Highlighting the day one efforts was a new indoor school record set by senior
Hannah Witter in the Pole Vault with a jump of 3.56 meters. Witter was the lone Division III competitor in the field. Her jump placed her third of thirteen vaulters. Highlighting day two was a new personal best time of 59.18 in the 400 Meter Dash for
Halle Jennett. Jennett finished first out of 19 competitors.
The Falcons are back in action on Saturday, Feb. 8 at the Blue & White Invitational hosted by Franklin & Marshall.
Day One Action
Action began in the field for day one with two Falcons competing in the Shot Put and one in the Pole Vault. In the shot put,
Leah Ferster finished with a mark of 10.66 meters while
Leah Ritzman hit a mark of 10.28 meters.
Hannah Witter was the lone Falcon to compete in the Pole Vault, but she made her presence known. After a stellar start to her senior campaign, Witter was able to clear a height of 3.56 meters Friday night to set a new personal best and a new Messiah Indoor Track and Field record. Her vault tops the record of 3.55 meters set by Rachel Robison in 2016. Witter finished third out of thirteen vaulters as the lone Division III competitor.
Opening action on the track was
Kara Brown, who ran a time of 9.46 in the prelims of the 60 Meter Hurdles, claiming the sixth fastest time and earning a spot in finals where she ran a new personal best of 9.39 to take third.
Halle Jennett ran a season-best time of 25.79 in the 200 Meter Dash, finishing third out of 50 runners.
Arwyn Gruenwald crossed the line in a time of 27.22 and
Kara Brown ran a season-best of 28.48.
In the Distance Medley Relay, the team of
Elana Pineda (1200 meters),
Clara Benner (400 meters),
Kerrigan Lebo (800 meters), and
Madison Kimmel (1600 meters) combined for a time of 12:53.17.
Delaney Turk finished fifth out of seventeen runners in the 5000 Meter Run with a time of 19:04.09.
Ella Swayne ran a new personal-best of 19:07.65 while
Ava Shirk crossed the line in a time of 19:18.78.
Aubrey Yeager finished with a time of 20:29.40.
Day Two Action
The Weight Throw was the first event with Falcon contestants with
Leah Ferster and
Jaclyn Steenstra each making an appearance in the circle. Ferster had a toss of 13.10 meters, finishing 10th out of 26. Steenstra was close behind in 13th with a distance of 12.73 meters.
In the 60 Meter Dash,
Arwyn Gruenwald crossed the line in a time of 8.10 seconds, finishing 10th out 33 and just missing the finals cut off of 8.09.
Halle Jennett continued a successful weekend with a new personal best time of 59.18, claiming the top spot in the 400 Meter Dash in a field of 19 competitors.
Six Falcons took to the track for the 800 Meter Run and were led by
Elana Pineda who ran a new personal best of 2:22.19, finishing fifth out of 25 runners.
Kerrigan Lebo finished 10th, running a season best 2:26.82.
Meagan Kime finished atop a trio of Falcons to cross the line, finishing in a time of 2:32.68. Teammate
Kayra DeVries crossed in a new personal best of 2:34.25 while
Madison Kimmel finished in a time of 2:34.97.
Juliette Safer rounded out Messiah's efforts with a 2:36.62.
Delaney Turk set a new personal best in the 3000 Meter Run with a time of 10:49.22, finishing eighth out of 19 runners.
Ella Swayne crossed the line in a time of 11:02.57.
Up Next
The Falcons are back in action on Saturday, Feb. 8 at the Blue & White Invitational hosted by Franklin & Marshall.
