Elon’s Kirschling Sets High Jump Mark at Gene Anderson Invitational

CHAPEL HILL, N.C – Elon Freshman Megan Kirschling broke her own school record in the high jump as the Elon women’s track and field team competed at the Gene Anderson Invitational on Saturday, Feb. 2. Kirschling set the new record after clearing the bar at 5’10” (1.78m) inside the Eddie Smith Fieldhouse.

Kirschling had previously set the program record in the event with a cleared height of 5’8” (1.73m) in the first two collegiate meets of her career. She reached the mark at the Liberty Kickoff on Dec. 1, and again at the Wake Forest Invitational on Jan. 19, winning the title at both meets.

Kirschling cleared the bar on her first four attempts of the day while fouling only once. She needed two attempts to establish her new personal record at 5’10” with Maryland’s Amina Smith clearing the same height. Smith was declared the winner after clearing the bar on her only attempt, with Kirschling finishing as the runner-up.

The women’s 4×400 relay “A” team of Bria Bell, Veronica Luedke, Jennifer Pash and Louise Prevoteau won the title with a time of 4:00.28.

In throws, Kimberlyn Holt set a new personal best in the weight throw with a toss of 50’3.5” (15.33m) on her final attempt. Teammate Charlise Morgan had a mark of 50’0” (15.24m) to finish in seventh overall, one spot behind Holt. Morgan also had a toss of 45’0.25” (13.72m) in the shot put to finish fifth.

The Elon distance team dominated the one-mile run with five runners placing in the top-10. Tereza Novotna(5:03.60) and Allyson Oram (5:06.27) crossed the line in two and three positions, respectively. Emily Tryon(5:14.01) and Jenny Gallagher (5:15.29) claimed the fifth and sixth spots with Caroline McCaslin (5:18.29, 9th) rounding out maroon and gold in the top-10.

Ellie Taff finished third in the 800-meter run after crossing the line with a time and new personal-record of 2:19.99. Brennan McDavid also competed for the Phoenix and ran a time of 2:24.66 for a ninth place standing.

Prevoteau finished fourth in the long jump, hitting a mark of 18’4.25” (5.59m). Marie Borowycz had a season-best mark of 17’0.75” for a seventh place standing. Prevoteau also broke into the top-five on the program’s all-time performance list in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 9.12 in the finals.

Borowycz claimed fifth in the triple jump with a mark of 35’8.50” (10.88m). Teammate Janelle McNeil’s mark of 35’6.50” (10.83m) placed her sixth overall.

Elon had three runners claim spots in the top-10 of the 400-meter dash, with Bell finishing as the runner-up with a time of 57.74. Luedke clocked in at 58.99 to finish fourth and Pash running a time of 1:01.10 to place ninth.

Bell was also the Phoenix’s top finisher in the 200-meter dash, clocking in with a time of 25.90 and fifth overall. Kayleigh Birks was not far behind with a time of 26.33 and a sixth place finish.

Elon will return to competition by traveling to the Liberty Quad next weekend, Feb. 8-9, in Lynchburg, Va.