Women’s track and field knabs five wins at Youngstown Invite

Bethany Blass,, Sports Co-Editor

Jess Bridle ’16 won the 400-meter run at the Youngstown State National Invitational, improving her personal mark in a field of 48 competitors. Four other Bison took home wins from the Invite on Feb. 5-6. The Orange and Blue also sent athletes to compete in the Crusader Challenge at Susquehanna University on Feb. 6.

On the first day of the Invitational, Nora Adams ’16 won the 5000-meter run, beating out 37 other runners. Other Bison to finish in the top-ten for the event included Alison Billas ’16, Deanna Godby ’16, Brennan Sharkey ’18, and Christine O’Kane ’19. Laura Papili ’17 concluded the 500-meter dash, earning second place. Seline Tan-Torres ’17 and Emma Harris ’18 also finished in the top-five in the same event, taking third and fourth, respectively. Katie FitzGerald ’17 was the runner-up in the 1000-meter run, while Grace Loh ’17, Lauren Hazzard ’19, and Colleen Buckley ’19 also rounded out top finishes for the Bison.

Off the track, Sophia Nnadi ’16 had an impressive top-five finish in weight throw, while Devon McDonald ’16 and Kim Lapszynski ’17 excelled in the long jump. Chloe Brown ’18 and Jenna Calandro ’18 had stellar top-five places in the pole vault.

On the second day of competition the Bison totaled four individual wins. Harris earned the title in the 800-meter run, while Tan-Torres trailed just behind in second. Sarah Chandler ’17 defeated her opponents in the mile and earned an ECAC-qualifying time to put her in the record books with the eighth-fastest time in school history. Christine Bendzinski ’18 beat out 35 challengers to win the 3000-meter event, improving her personal record. Nnadi took second place with her shot put throw and also bettered her personal-best.

At the Crusader Challenge, Chrissy Haney ’16 competed in the 200-meter run and the 60-meter hurdles and had impressive top-five finishes in both events. Hanna Greenfield ’17 and Mackenzie Todd ’19 had top-ten finishes in the long jump.

The Bison will host the Bucknell Tune-Up, their final home meet of the indoor season, on Feb. 12.

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