Weekend Review (1/13/19) (Women)

Nittany Lion Challenge

800

Army West Point’s Haley Watson narrowly defeated Pittsburgh freshman Sydni Townsend 2:13.58 to 2:13.70. Close behind was Tiara Tardy of Bucknell finished 3rd in 2:14.03.

1000

Danae Rivers crushed the field and the NCAA All-Time mark with a 2:38.58 to set a new NCAA record. The mark that previously been held by Kaela Edwards' time of 2:40.79. Rivers’ time is also a World #2 for the indoor season according to IAAF.

Behind Rivers, there was likely another record set. Point Park’s Anna Shields (NAIA) ran 2:42.51 which is good for a World #4 and most likely an NAIA record. NAIA records could not be readily found on their website, but their championship record for the event is 2:45.81.

The next NCAA finisher was Cassie Mundekis from Army West Point who finished in 2:51 while a trio of Georgetown athletes finished right behind her (led by Kennedy Weisner in 2:53.38).

Mile

Susan Aneno of Connecticut doubled up in distance from the 800 to take a victory at PSU with a 4:53.57. Aneno beat Abby Halbrook of Army West Point for the top slot as Halbrook ran 4:54.11. Jordan Williams (Penn State) and Meg Mathison (Georgetown) of were the last two to break five minutes in 4:55 and 4:56.

3000

Anna Shields of Point Park did not rest after her World Top 5 mark in the 1000. In fact, she decided to earn a win! Shields barely held off Paige Hofstad of Georgetown as they both ran 9:39. Hofstad’s time moves her to NCAA #13 while Shields leads the NAIA.

Right behind Hofstad was teammate Josette Norris who finished in 9:40. Also finishing under 10 minutes was Sami Corman of Georgtown in 9:46 and the duo of Mia Nahom and Jaclyn Galley from Connecticut who ran 9:48 and 9:49, respectively.

UW Preview

800

Natalie Ackerley of Washington State took the top collegiate honors with a 2:10.51 (good for NCAA #11). Right behind her was Danielle McCormick from Alaska Anchorage in 2:11.32, setting a DII #4 time in the process. Zorana Grujic of Washington State and Rebecca Ledsham of Oregon State battled for the next spot. Grujic out-leaned Ledsham, 2:12.02 to 2:12.05. Grace Victor also broke 2:13 with a 2:12.39.

1000

Susan Ejore of Oregon challenged Konstanze Klosterhalfen of Germany and NOP, but Klosterhalfen took the crown at 2:43.07 with the collegian settling for a 2:44.84.

Mile

Klosterhalfen took another win at 4:29 followed by a number of pro athletes. The first collegiate athlete to finish was Katie Rainsberger of Washington at 4:37.30 with teammate Lilli Burdon next at 4:42.16. Their times should be NCAA #2 and NCAA #4 pending a TFRRS results update.

Currently, their times are not listed in the NCAA descending order list, while Stanford’s Abbie McNulty’s and Ella Donaghu’s times from the meet are included. McNulty finished in 4:45.62 with Donaghu at 4:46.79 to currently sit at NCAA #5 and NCAA #9. Emily Hamlinof Washington finished in 4:48.95.

3000

Caroline Kurgat of Alaska Anchorage was narrowly beaten by pros Elanor Fulton and Shannon Rowbury, but sets the fastest NCAA time for 2019 across all divisions to finish at 9:07.05. Anna Maxwell of Washington was the next collegiate athlete to cross the line in 9:33.18.

Badger Icebreaker

Mile

Alicia Monson returned to action for the first time since the cross country season and set an NCAA #1 mark in the process. Monson ran 4:38.78 which converts to 4:36.05. Her teammates did not disappoint either as Alissa Niggemann and Amy Davis both set NCAA Top five marks as well. Niggemann ran 4:45.65 (NCAA #3 4:42.85 on conversion) while Davis ran 4:48.10 (NCAA#4 4:45.28 on conversion).

Wolverine Invitational

800

While an unattached Jaimie Phelan took the victory, collegiate athletes had a good showing on Michigan’s new indoor facility. Michigan State’s Carlyn Arteaga led those collegians as she blasted a 2:10.21 for an NCAA #10 mark with Micaela DeGenero of Michigan right behind at 2:11.00.

Mile

This race also included a number of professional/unattached athletes with Shannon Osika of Nike and Amanda Eccleston of Brooks finishing with the same time of 4:33.41 with Osika barely edging Eccleston for the win. Natalie Cizmas, formerly of Eastern Michigan, ran unattached alongside Kira Garry of Hoka NYNJTC. That duo finished 3rd and 4th at 4:41 and 4:46.

Michigan State’s Erin McDonald challenged Garry for 4th at the line, but was unable out-lean her. McDonald ran 4:46.31 for an NCAA #7 ranking. Meg Darmofal of Michigan was 6th and the second collegiate runner across the line in 4:49.66. Anna West of Michigan also ran a great race with a time of 4:51.60

3000

Hannah Meier of Michigan skyrocketed up the 3k rankings as she established a new PR of 9:20.34 to become the NCAA #3 ranked runner. Sydney Meyes of Eastern Michigan also jumped into the NCAA top 10 with a 9:29.40 for NCAA #6 and Camille Davre of Michigan was close behind for NCAA#9 at 9:35.48. Amber Way of Michigan State was the last athlete to dip under 9:40 for 4th while teammates Mackenzie Weiler and Sarah Kettel rounded out the top six at 9:41 and 9:42. Anne Forsyth of Michigan placed 7th at 9:45.

Jim Green Invite

800

Coming into the weekend, Kelsey Harris was having a phenomenal beginning to her season and that did not change this weekend. Harris dropped a 2:06.93 for an NCAA #1 mark and defeated the field by three seconds. With such success early in the season, Harris looks to enter the individual contender conversation at 800 and the mile, but has also cemented herself as an important piece in Indiana’s DMR title run.

Ohio State’s Annie Ubbing and Aziza Ayoub were the next two across the line with times of 2:09.78 (NCAA #7) and 2:10.56 (NCAA#12), respectively. Harris’ Indiana teammates Mallory Mulzer, Jenna Barker, Hannah Stoffel, Bailey Hertenstein, and Haley Harris all entered the top 10 at the meet in 4th, 6th, 7th, 9th and 10th, respectively. Mulzer ran 2:11 with Barker at 2:12.

Mile

A number of Indiana Hoosiers attempted the 800/mile double this weekend, including Haley Harris who came away with the mile victory in 4:45.94, good for NCAA #6. Close behind was teammate Margaret Allen in 4:46.39, an NCAA #8 mark. Ohio State’s Abby Nichols came in 3rd at 4:49 with Josephine Thestrup of Butler at 4:50. Indiana doublers Hannah Stoffel and Bailey Hertenstein ran 4:51 and 4:52.

3000

Mackenzie Andrews of Akron came away with the biggest victory of her career with a 9:28.39 moving her into the top of the NCAA lists coming into the weekend good for NCAA #5. Battling her to the line was Julia Rizk of Ohio State who ran 9:30.77 (NCAA #7) another top result and one that highlights improvement in the Buckeyes’ distance squad. Two other athletes dipped under 9:50 with Purity Sanga of Tennessee Tech at 9:44 and Taylor Venot of Dayton at 9:47. Eleven athletes in total broke 10 minutes.

DMR

In one of the first DMRs of the season, Ohio State took the top two spots at 11:38 and 11:44. For fielding two teams, these are good early season results for the Buckeyes.

UAB Blazer Invitational

600

800 meter challengers Abike Egbeniyi and Kayla Johnson faced off at the shorter distance in their first meet of 2019. Egbeniyi of Middle Tennessee State finished in 1:27.80 to beat Johnson by half a second. Johnson, a Miami Hurricane, finished in 1:28.31. The duo have PR's of 2:02 and 2:03 respectively for 800. Amber Tanner of Georgia, a 2:06 performer for 800 meters, finished 3rd in 1:30.95. Egbeniyi was the NCAA leader at 800 meters this indoor season heading into the weekend.

800

Hayleigh Palotti of Jacksonville emerged victorious in Birmingham with a 2:13.58 to edged Patience Akanwogba of Middle Tennessee State. Akanwogba ran 2:14.84 with teammate Quanisha Marshall finishing 3rd in 2:16.09.

3000

2017 NCAA Indoor Mile Champion Karisa Nelson returned to major action for the first time since the 2017 NCAA Cross Country Championships, although she did race once during indoors in 2018. Nelson moved into the NCAA #4 spot at 3000 meters with her time of 9:22.32 and significantly gapped the field in the process. Nelson’s best event will almost certainly be the mile, but this should give her confidence as she returns to racing. An impressive 2nd was Emily Drouin of UAB in 9:42.26 who slots into the top 20 in the early season rankings.

Arkansas Invitational

600

Kaylee Dodd of Oklahoma State opened up her season with a victory over three laps at Arkansas with a 1:31.89. She defeated Alexandra Byrnes of Arkansas by four tenths oof a second, with Byrnes’ time of 1:32.38.

800

Oklahoma State took another victory with Abbie Hetherington taking the crown in 2:11.07. Meghan Underwood of Arkansas finished 2nd in 2:15.

1000

Sinclaire Johnson made it another win for OK State. Johnson nudged teammate Molly Sughroue at the line for the win, 2:43.37 to 2:43.98. 3rd place went to Lauren Gregory of Arkansas in 2:44.44. This race shows that all three are in fantastic fitness moving forward as Sughroue is the NCAA leader at 3k. 4th place went to Sabrina Monsees of Tulsa in 2:52.

Mile

Carina Viljoen of Arkansas took the only victory for the home team in the distance events with her 4:47.11, an NCAA #10. The 2nd and 3rd collegiate finishers were also Razorbacks as Maddy Reed and Sydney Brown ran 4:54 and 4:54, respectively. SMU’s NCAA XC qualifier Svenja Ojstersek finished 5th overall in 4:56.

Dick Taylor Carolina Cup

3000

North Carolina sophomore Mady Clahane broke away from the field to drop a flat-track time of 9:37.21. This converts to NCAA #8 and a 9:32.31. Leigha Torino of Duke was the only other athlete to remain relatively close with her 9:49.63.

Potts Invitational

800

Northern Colorado’s Cammy Sargent jumped into the NCAA Top 10 after her 2:10.08. With an altitude conversion, Sargent’s result moves to NCAA #4 2:09.24. 2nd place Macy Kreutz of Colorado State ran 2:12.07 and sits just outside the top ten.

Mile

Colorado’s Mackenzie Caldwell also moved into the NCAA Top 20 with her 4:56.40 because of an altitude conversion. The converted time, 4:49.17, moves Caldwell into NCAA #18. Colorado State’s Ali Kallner grabbed the runner-up honors with her 4:59.49 (4:52 converted).

Illini Open

Mile

Aubrey Roberts of Northwestern claimed a win a flat track 4:52.75 to beat the field by two seconds. Roberts’ time is NCAA #22 after a conversion to 4:49.89. Sarah Anderson of Western Michigan came in 2nd place with a 4:54.89 and Illinois’ Mikaela Lucki earned 3rd with a 4:56.87.

Coughlan-Mallory Cup (Illinois State vs Indiana State)

800

This event went all the way to the line as Indiana State’s Brooke Moore nipped Hattie Plumb of Illinois State for the win. Moore finished in 2:10.63 with Plumb at 2:10.75. This dual pushed them both into the NCAA's top five spots with Moore slotting in at NCAA #3 and Plumb right behind at NCAA #5 (based on conversions of almost 1.5 seconds).

3000

Grace Beattie of Illinois State ran away with the event in 9:46.21 to defeat the field by almost 30 seconds.

Beantown Challenge

3000

Taylor Knibb took the win in 9:46.00 and paced teammate Eve Glasergreen to a 9:47. UMass Lowell’s Kaley Richards earned 3rd in 9:51.38.

Great Dane Classic

3000

Emily Wolff of Quinnipiac outpaced Sarah Forman of Siena to earn the victory, 9:45 to 9:48. Albany’s Hannah Reinhardt was 3rd in 9:51.20 while Division III Johns Hopkins’ Caelyn Reilly was 4th in 9:51.20. Reilly’s time is a DIII #2.

Wesley A Brown Invitational

800

Penn’s Melissa Tanaka raced to a three second victory as she posted a 2:11.69. She led nine athletes under 2:20 with Jackie Berardo and Caroline O’Sullivan of Princeton and Penn respectively closest on her tail. Both ran 2:15.

1000

Six athletes broke 2:50 over five laps at Navy’s beautiful banked track. Leading them through the race was Villanova’s Rachel McArthur to win in 2:46.51. McArthur won the Mid-Atlantic Cross Country Regional and is an X-factor for the Wildcats with major versatility. Close behind was Anna Jurew of Princeton who challenged her all the way with a 2:47.14. Alie Fordyce and Sophie cantine of Princeton finished 3rd and 4th both at 2:48 while Reilly Seibert (Villanova) and Katherine Devore (Penn) both ended up at 2:49.

Mile

This was clearly the race of the day in Annapolis as Nicole Hutchinson stamped her mark over eight laps. Hutchinson raced to an NCAA #2 mark of 4:38.18 and opened up a 10 second gap on the other athletes in the race. The next athlete across the line was Penn’s Nia Akins who posted a respectable NCAA #13 at 4:47.68 while Villanova’s Caroline Alcorta was 3rd in 4:48.73 for NCAA #15. A trio of Princeton Tigers claimed the 4th through 6th positions as Gillian Wagner, Madison Offstein, and Laura Hergenrother crossed the line in 4:49, 4:50, and 4:55.

3000

Princeton competed strongly again as Melia Chittenden and Allie Klimkiewicz earned the top two spots with Chittenden getting the best of her teammate 9:47 to 9:50. Villanova’s Bella Burda claimed 3rd in 9:55.

DMR

Villanova and Princeton went head-to-head as they fought for the NCAA #1 spot. It was the Wildcats who emerged victorious with a team of Lydia Olivere, Kaley Ciluffo, Nicole Hutchinson, and Ann Campbell at 11:25.22 with Princeton’s foursome of Madison Offstein, Jackie Berardo, Alie Fordyce, and Sophie Cantine less than half a second back at 11:25.66.

Both teams have areas to improve upon. Princeton left off Anna Jurew after her quick 1k performance while Villanova had Rachel McArthur and Caroline Alcorta on their second relay. These two teams currently sit in the top two spots in the nation.

GVSU Bob Eubanks Open

Mile

While the mile lacked significant collegiate action, three pros made this a race. Emily Oren representing Gazelle Elite Racing outpaced Leah O’Conner of Adidas 4:42.32 to 4:43.20. Joanna Stephens, also of Gazelle, finished 3rd in 4:54.

3000

Division III Albion’s Cassie Vince beat the field by over 30 seconds to win in 9:39.35. Not only did she beat the field by 30 seconds, but she also established a NCAA Division III #1 by over 10 seconds.

2019 Graduate Classic

800

Minnesota led the way as Kelli Schmidt led two teammates to sweep the podium. Schmidt had the fastest time of the day at 2:11.32 with Paige Peschel right behind at 2:13.93.

3000

Nebraska took home their second distance title of the weekend with Eirka Freyhof at 9:49.39. Freyhof was the only athlete to break 10 minutes in the race.

Clemson Orange & Purple Elite

Mile

Florida State took the top four collegiate finishers with Maddie Skyring placing 3rd overall for the top NCAA mark of the meet at 4:47.36 and NCAA #11. Teammates Megan Mooney, Jodie Judd, and Althea Hewitt finished in 4:52, 4:57, and 4:58 respectively.

The North Carolina State duo of Heather Holt and Sarah LaTour were the last collegians under five minutes, both at 4:59. The overall winner was Yolanda Ngarambe of Atlanta Track Club (and Sweden) completing the race in 4:37.43.

3000

Jodie Judd doubled back to win the 3k in 9:52 for a very respectable day and what appears to be Judd’s first individual college event win.

Ted Nelson Invitational Saturday

800

Morgan Stewart of Baylor raced to the top of the results with a 2:10.15 clocking ahead of Texas A&M’s Jean Jenkins who completed the event in 2:10.73. Stephen F Austin’s LaSean Davis rounded out the top three with a 2:12.65. Stewart’s time is good for NCAA #9.

3000

Leslie Romero (Texas State) led two other finishers under the 10 minute barrier with her 9:51 victory. Texas Longhorn Madeline Vondra came in 2nd in 9:55 while Ashton Hutcherson snuck under the barrier with a 9:59 for the home team Aggies.

Virginia Tech Invitational

1000

The five-lapper was probably the marquee event in Blacksburg as Rachel Pocratsky of Virginia Tech battled Norfolk State’s Martha Bissah all the way to the tape. Pocratsky ran 2:47.16 with Bissah at 2:47.24. Both should be contenders in the 800 meter at NCAA's in March, while Pocratsky could also attempt the mile.

Mile

Sara Freix (Virginia Tech) was the only athlete to break five minutes with her time of 4:51.42.