HPU Women’s Track Opens Indoor Season At JDL Kickoff

• Alyssa Palenchar and Catelyn Griffin posted top-3 finishes in the pole vault to lead the Panthers
• Junior Jamie Schnuck set a new personal-best mark in the weight throw with a mark of 13.90m (45-7)
• The Panthers return to action with a full squad at the JDL Winston-Salem State Open on Jan. 18-19, 2015

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Behind a number of strong finishes in the pole vault, the High Point University women’s track & field team began the 2014-15 indoor campaign at the JDL College Kickoff Classic Saturday at the JDL Fast Track.

Junior Alyssa Palenchar led the Panthers with a second-place finish in the pole vault. The Bradenville, Pa., native posted a mark of 3.55m (11-8), while senior Catelyn Griffin was third with a vault of 3.40m (11-2).

Sophomore Amanda Gregory also performed well with a 14th-place finish in the long jump after posting a mark of 5.00m (16-5).

“I love competition and it was great to have the team back in the arena in uniform,” associate head coach Eric Dudley said. “We had some strong performances from our vaulters including Alyssa and Catelyn, and Amanda was over five meters in the long jump which is a great mark for her.”

The HPU throws unit was led by junior Jamie Schnuck, who set a new personal-best in the weight throw with a mark of 13.90m (45-7). Schuck also placed 19th in the shot put after posting a mark of 10.35m (33-11.5).

High Point’s “Fab Four” of freshman hurdlers made their debut Saturday for the Panthers, led by Ashlynn Schiro, who finished 14th in a time of 9.29 seconds. Haley Cianfarini placed 20th (9.62), while CeAnna Soper (23rd, 9.66) and Mikaela Campbell (29th, 10.03) also raced well for the Panthers.

In addition, junior Sara Katherine Kirkpatrick was 35th in a time of 10.78 seconds, junior Zoey Miller was 37th in 10.88 seconds and sophomore Erika Bridges was 39th in 11.54 seconds.

In jumps action, Kilpatrick finished eighth to lead HPU in the high jump with a mark of 1.51m (4-11.5) while junior Erica Herrmann placed ninth at 1.46m (4-9.5). Bridges was 16th in the long jump (1.41m, 4-7.5) and Miller was right behind in 17th.

In addition to Palenchar and Griffin in the pole vault, senior Ashton Kirby placed eighth (2.95m, 9-8) and sophomore Madison Depner was right behind in 10th. Redshirt-sophomore Katie Benavente rounded out the Panther pack in 15th with a mark of 2.65m (8-8).

Other results in the long jump included freshman Kela Seals and sophomore Alyn Carr who each finished 21st with a mark of 4.71m (15-5.5). Bridges was 27th at 4.63m (15-2.25).

In the 60m dash, Campbell finished 37th (8.17 seconds) while Gregory was just milliseconds behind in 38th.

“We certainly have some work to as we head into the holidays and prepare for the bulk of the indoor season,” Dudley said. “This was a very informative opportunity today and it was awesome to see our kids engage their competitive readiness and spirit.”

The Panthers return to action with a full squad at the JDL Winston-Salem State Open on Jan. 18-19, 2015 at the JDL Fast Track.