Elon’s Griffin, Esposito Set Program Hurdle Marks at Raleigh Relays

RALEIGH, N.C. – Sophomores Sydney Griffin and Jennifer Esposito set new school records in their hurdle events as the Elon University women’s track and field team concluded its second and final day of competition at the Raleigh Relays on Saturday, March 29, at the Paul Derr Track and Field facility on the campus of NC State.

“We had some rough weather this weekend, but it did not get anyone down,” said Elon head track and field coach Mark Elliston. “In spite of that, we ran and performed really tough at this meet. Everyone responded and did really well and it’s hard to complain with two new school records and overall great performances from everyone.”

Griffin topped her own program record of 13.95 in the 100-meter hurdles that she set previous day in the qualifying round. The Marietta, Ga., native clocked in a time of 13.72 in the race and finished fifth overall. That time is also the fastest time on the Southern Conference’s performance list in the event.

Esposito also set a new personal and school record in the 400-meter hurdles, breaking Alice Turner’s eight-year mark. Esposito ran a time of 1:00.57 in the race, finishing seventh overall. The Mansfield, Mass., native took the top spot on the league’s outdoor performance list this season.

“Those two hurdle races were probably two of the strongest records that we have had for a long time,” added Elliston. “To have Sydney and Jennifer come in and do what they did this weekend in these conditions against strong competition was really exciting.”

The Phoenix 4×100-meter relay team of Simone Jackson, Jennifer Pash, Bria Bell and Griffin clocked in the fourth-fastest performance in school history with a time of 47.22. Senior Kayleigh Birks set a personal record in the hammer throw with a toss of 145’6” (44.34m). Freshman Briana O’Grady jumped into the program’s top five all-time list in the hammer throw with a heave of 138’3” (42.14m). Jennifer Jarvis had a throw of 121’7” (37.07m) in the javelin.

Elon concluded the day with the women’s 4×400-meter relay team of Bell, Pash, Veronica Luedke and Esposito finishing the event with a time of 3:47.61, the third-fastest time in the race in school history.

Ari Rothschild of the Elon men’s cross country team also etched his name on the top of the men’s outdoor record book with a time of 31:24.15 in the 10,000-meters, finishing fifth overall.

The Phoenix will be back in action next week with a few select members of the distance team traveling to the Stanford Invitational on April 4. The majority of the women’s track and field team will compete at the Liberty Collegiate Invitational on April 4-5.