HPU’s Rickert Sets VertKlasse Women’s Track & Field Meet Record In Javelin On First Day Of Competition

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point University women’s track & field team kicked off the sixth annual VertKlasse Meeting on Friday. Sophomore
Christine Rickert set the meet record in the javelin with a throw of 47.26 meters (155-01).

Rickert’s mark on the first day of the event was just off of the HPU school record of 47.78 meters (156-9), which she set at last year’s Liberty Collegiate Invitational. Sophomores Zoey Miller placed eighth in the event with a mark of 31.67 meters (103-11) and Sara Katherine Kirkpatrick came in 19th with a toss of 24.53 meters (80-06).

Also in the field events, sophomore Erica Herrmann was runner-up in the participation section of the high jump with a clearance of 1.55 meters (5-1). Freshman Erika Bridges matched that clearance to set a new personal best and finish fourth in the event while Miller and Kirkpatrick cleared 1.50 to place fifth.

On the track, senior Audrey Malloy was the second collegiate finisher and third overall in the 3000-meter steeplechase with a time of 11:21.05. Freshman Natalia Ocasio came in right behind Malloy in fourth in 11:29.81. Mary Ballinger of Zap Fitness won the event while setting the meet and track record with a time of 10:40.62.

Freshman Cozette Collin won her heat of the 1500-meter with a career-best time of 4:49.43, which placed her 15th overall. In the 5000-meter race, junior Leah Anne Wirfel led a group of five HPU runners with a fifth place showing in 18:15.02.

The VertKlasse Meeting is scheduled to continue with the second day of competition beginning tomorrow at 10 a.m.