Elon Track and Field Makes 2015-16 Indoor Debut at JDL Kickoff Classic

ELON, N.C. – The Elon University women’s track and field team opens its 2015-16 indoor campaign this Saturday, Dec. 5, at the JDL Kickoff Classic at the JDL Fast Track Complex in Winston-Salem, N.C. The first events begin at 9:30 a.m.

This is one of four indoor meets that the Phoenix will compete at the JDL Fast Track Complex this season. Elon will also race at the Wake Forest Invitational (Jan. 16), the UNCG Spartan Team Challenge (Jan. 24), and the Camel City Invitational (Jan. 29-30).

Top Indoor Returners
Elon returns many of its standout performers a year ago from indoor competition. Among the notable Phoenix scheduled to race and compete this Saturday are seniors Jen Esposito, Sydney Griffin, Megan Kirschling, junior Bre’anna Warren, and sophomores Emily Dixon and Bryanna Hames.

Esposito clocked in the second-fastest time in school history in the indoor 400-meter dash last season (56.00). She also earned a berth to the Eastern College Athletic Conference Indoor Championships (ECAC) last season and will race in the 500-meter dash around 2:20 p.m.

Griffin holds the indoor school record in the 60-meter hurdles (8.56) and is second all-time on the program’s all-time performance list in the 60-meter dash (7.78) and the 200-meter dash (25.04). The Marietta, Ga., native is scheduled to compete in both the 60-meter hurdles (10 a.m.) and the 300-meter dash (4:40 p.m.).

Kirschling earned a berth to the ECAC Championships last year in the high jump and holds the indoor school-record in the event at a cleared height of 5’ 10” (1.78m). She advanced to the ECAC meet with her mark of 5’ 8” (1.73m) at the High Point Team Challenge at the JDL Fast Track Complex.

Both Hames and Warren set the second and third-best marks in school history in the shot put, respectively. Hames had a toss of 44’ 6” (13.56m) while Warren had a heave of 44’ 4.25” (13.52) as both earned trips to the ECAC Championships.

Dixon concluded her first season with the Phoenix by establishing the second-best points mark in program history in the pentathlon (3,439). She also competed at the ECAC Indoor Championships last season.

New Faces
The Phoenix will also have many of its first-year class competing this weekend. Seven newcomers will make their collegiate debut on Saturday in Katie Arbogast, Ellie Bennett, Lauren Brzozowski, Emily Cooper, Meagan Henderson, Nicole Karabas and Desiree Ross.

On Deck
The Phoenix will be off for the winter break until January before returning to the JDL Fast Track Complex for the Wake Forest Invitational on Jan. 16.