Palenchar Sets HPU Women’s Pole Vault Record

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Freshman Alyssa Palenchar set the High Point University record in the women’s pole vault to lead the Panthers at the Aggie Invitational at North Carolina A&T on Friday and Saturday in Greensboro, N.C. Palenchar cleared 3.50 meters (11-5.75) to break the record from 2011.

“We wanted to capitalize on the good runway here in a low-key but competitive situation,” said HPU associate head coach Eric Dudley. “Obviously that was a great performance for Alyssa to get the school record – now she has both the indoor and outdoor records – and Jill Marois had a solid competition as well. It sets them up with some confidence for the conference championship after a lull in the middle of the season. Emily De Lena had some PRs as well and those were the kind of performances we were looking for this week.”

Palenchar’s height of 3.50 meters bested the HPU outdoor record of 3.45 meters (11’3.75) set by Rachel Webb in 2011. Palenchar also set a new HPU indoor record of 3.35 meters (10’11.75) back in February. Marois, also a freshman, cleared 3.35 meters (10-11.75) to finish second behind Palenchar. Sophomore Catelyn Griffin took fourth with a height of 3.05 meters (10-0). Sophomore Ashton Kirby placed sixth and junior Veronica Peskosky placed eighth.

DeLana, a freshman, ran a career best of 12.62 in the 100-meter dash and won her heat of the 200-meter with a time of 26.75. Freshman Michelle Stolz ran a season-best 15.59 in the 100-meter hurdles, placing seventh in her heat and freshman Stephanie Quinn took third in her heat of the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1:10.43.

Freshman Becca Baldinger led three HPU runners in the 1,500-meter. She placed eighth in 5:10.32.

High Point competes in the Big South Championship next Thursday through Saturday at Liberty University in Lexington, Va. The Panthers finished sixth at the 2013 Big South Indoor Championship and will look to improve on that performance.