Throwers Shine for Elon Track and Field at Aggie Invitational

GREENSBORO, N.C. – Four event wins and a number of personal-best times and marks highlighted a very successful outing for the Elon University women’s track and field team on Saturday, April 12, at the Aggie Invitational, hosted by North Carolina A&T.

“It was a very solid day and we had good results overall,” said Elon women’s head track and field coach Mark Elliston. “We had some great victories as well, so overall it was a good day with a great effort by the team.”

Senior Kayleigh Birks won the women’s hammer throw after setting a new personal-best with a toss of 172’6” (52.58m) in the event. Birks’ throw is now the second-best mark in school history. Charlise Morgan captured the shot put event with a throw of 45’8” (13.92m), while Breanna Warren finished as the runner-up in the discus throw with her heave of 142’3” (43.35m).

Jennifer Esposito won the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1:00.71, nearly close to her school record of 1:00.57 that she set at the Raleigh Relays on April 5. Sydney Griffin was the first collegiate runner to cross the finish line and third overall in the 100-meter hurdles with her time of 13.91.

Sophomore Megan Kirschling captured the high jump event crown after clearing the bar at 5’6” (1.68m). Teammate Haley Laird was third with a cleared height of 5’3” (1.63m). Claire Smith set a new personal best in the pole vault with her mark of 11’5.75” (3.50m), second overall and second-best in program history.

Senior Bria Bell was the third runner to cross the line in the 400-meter dash with a time of 55.14. Sophomore Jennifer Pash was not far behind at 56.63 and in ninth overall. Simone Jackson was Elon’s top finisher in the 100-meter dash with a qualifying time of 12.27.

Carrie Abraham was second in the triple jump with a new personal-best mark of 37’10” (11.53m). Jayna Coyle joined Abraham in the top-five with a mark of 36’2” (11.02m).

The team will have a week off before returning to competition at the 2014 Southern Conference Outdoor Championships on April 26-27, in Spartanburg, S.C.

Meet Results