Jill Marois Leads HPU Women’s Track and Field at the Tiger Paw Invitational

CLEMSON, S.C. – The High Point University women’s track and field team competed in the Tiger Paw Invitational in Clemson, S.C., on Friday and Saturday. Freshman Jill Marois set a new career-high in the pole vault and was HPU’s top finisher in the two-day competition.

“This was a great opportunity for our young team to compete in a large meet,” head coach Mike Esposito said. “As we approach the conference tournament we are continuing to fine tune a lot of things and this gave us the opportunity to do that against top-notch competition.”

Marois cleared 3.33 meters (10-11) to tie for eighth in the pole vault for the Panthers on Friday. Marois cleared the height on her first attempt before going out at 3.48 meters (11-5). Fellow freshman Alyssa Palencharfinished in 12th in the event with a height of 3.18 meters (10-5.25).

Also on Friday, the Panthers’ team of freshmen Julia Zautcke, Emily Fischer, Katie Farina and senior Kayleigh Perry finished in fifth in the Distance Medley Relay with a time of 12:31.41.

Farina was HPU’s top finisher on Saturday, placing 14th in the 800-meters with a time of 2:21.95.

Freshman Lilla Loránd nearly matched her career-best time in the 200-meter dash, crossing the line in 26.43 while Perry was High Point’s top finisher in the mile with a time of 5:15.92.

The Panthers will compete in one final meet before the Big South Championships, heading to nearby Winston-Salem, N.C., to take part in the JDL Fast Track Championship Tuneup on Feb. 16. The event will be held at the same venue as this season’s Big South Championship.