The William Woods University women's track and field team had 15 compete at the NAIA/JUCO Challenge hosted by Pittsburg State University Saturday in Pittsburg, Kansas. The meet was the first of 2023 and their second overall competition for the indoor season.
The Owls had 16 place in the top 15. The team placed sixth out of 18 NAIA and junior college teams with 41.5 points, beating out American Midwest Conference opponents Missouri Baptist and Central Baptist.
Throws
Katie French won the shot put and marked the NAIA "B" standard for the second time this season with her 13.04-meter toss. She beat out 25 others for the first-place finish. Allison Kenneavy placed sixth overall with a 10.86-meter throw.
In the weight throw, French placed third overall with a 15.14-meter throw, and Kenneavy placed 11th with an 11.25-meter throw.
Distance
Alicia Engelbrecht placed fourth in the 3,000-meter run.
Mekayla Gibson set two new personal records and grabbed two fifth-place finishes. She finished the 3,000-meter run at 11:01.82 and the mile in 5:33.67.
Tara Lowe and Kyah Weirich placed 11th and 14th in the 3,000-meter run, respectively.
Relays
The 4x400-meter relay team comprised Engelbrecht, Trinity Thomas, Nia Hawkins and Kristan Wilson, placed sixth with a 4:51.68 time.
Jumps
Heather Harbison and Ashley Strode wrote their names in fourth place in the WWU record book for pole vault. Harbison tied for seventh with her 2.50-meter jump on the first attempt. Strode also finished with a 2.50-meter jump but placed ninth since she achieved it on her third attempt.
In the long jump, Thomas placed fifth overall with a 5.00-meter jump. Heidi Baranauskas set a new PR with her 4.64-meter, ninth-place jump.
WWU results
60-meter dash
21st - Nia Hawkins - 8.32
26th - Madison Dixon - 8.42
36th - Makynzie Burns - 8.62
60-meter hurdles
14th - Makynzie Burns - 10.50
200-meter dash
26th - Trinity THomas - 27.90
30th - Madison Dixon - 28.08
400-meter dash
17th - Kristan Wilson - 1:06.16
600-meter dash
14th - Crystal Ruden - 1:51.14
800-meter run
16th - Crystal Ruden - 2:37.45
Mile run
5th - Mekayla Gibson - 5:33.67 (PR)
3,000-meter run
4th - Alicia Engelbrecht - 10:57.04
5th - Mekayla Gibson - 11:01.82 (PR)
11th - Tara Lowe - 12:13.83
14th - Kyah Weirich - 13:06.88
4x400-meter relay
6th - Alicia Engelbrecht, Trinity Thomas, Nia Hawkins, Kristan Wilson - 4:51.68
Long jump
5th - Trinity Thomas - 5.00 meters
9th - Heidi Baranauskas - 4.64 meters (PR)
Pole vault
T-7th - Heather Harbison - 2.50 meters (first attempt) (fourth record book)
9th - Ashley Strode - 2.50 meters (third attempt) (fourth record book)
Shot put
*1st - Katie French - 13.04 meters
6th - Allison Kenneavy - 10.86 meters
Weight throw
3rd - Katie Fench - 15.14 meters
11th - Allison Kenneavy - 11.25 meters
*Denotes NAIA "B" standard
Up next
The Owls next compete at the UCM Mule Relays hosted by the University of Central Missouri Saturday.