Elon Track and Field Distance Leads the Way on Day One of Hokie Invite

BLACKSBURG, Va. – A few members of the Elon University women’s track and field distance group had a strong outing on the first day of the Hokie Invite on Friday evening, Jan. 23, at the Rector Field House.

Sophomore Kimberly Johansen finished fifth overall in the 1,000-meter run with a personal-best time of 2:53.99. That time qualifies Johansen for the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) championships.

In the 3,000-meter run, sophomore Elyse Bierut, senior Jenny Gallagher and sophomore Shelby Cuddeback finished fifth, sixth and seventh, respectively in the race. Bierut clocked the second-fastest time in school history at 9:54.49 and qualified for the ECAC’s. Gallagher posted the program’s fourth-fastest time in the race at 9:56.39 while Cuddeback also jumped into the top-five in school history in the race with her time of 10:03.19.

Tereza Novotna clocked in a time of 4:58.46, setting a new personal-best, while finishing 11th overall in the race. The time was also an ECAC qualifier.

Briana O’Grady had a throw of 45’ 10” (13.97m) in the women’s weight throw. Freshman Lydia Laws had a preliminary time of 9.06 in the 60-meter hurdles.

The final day of the meet will start tomorrow at 11 a.m. with field events. The first running event kicks off at 12:45 p.m.