WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Seven new personal-records including an event win and school-record in the one-mile for senior Kimberly Johansen highlighted the indoor season-opener for the Elon University women’s track and field team on Saturday, Dec. 3, at the JDL College Kickoff inside the JDL Fast Track Complex.
“The first meet (of the season) is normally a little rough because we don’t know where we are at,” said Elon Director of Cross Country and Track and Field Mark Elliston. “We saw a lot of good performances in the field events, we also had some good throws in both the shot put and the weight throw. It really good as far as the jumps. I know Kim came out and lit up that mile which was amazing.
“Overall, we had some good things all around happening and I think it’s a very good start just before we go to break. I’m pleased with it, but there are a couple of things we need to work on in our shape level to get better. But that’s what happens with time and practice and I thought the coaches did a great job getting their group ready for this meet.”
Johansen won the one-mile run with as the Chelmsford, England, native broke her own indoor school-record in the process. She clocked a 4:47.00 in the race – 13 seconds faster than the runner-up – and broke her previous program time by two seconds.
The Phoenix also saw a pair of athletes earn top-five finishes in both the shot put and the 800-meter run while also setting new personal-best marks. In the shot put, Bre’anna Warren set a personal career-best with a 45’ 7.25” (13.90m) and was third overall while teammate Bryanna Hames was fourth with her new personal-record of 45’ 2.25” (13.77m). Those marks are now second and third on the program’s all-time indoor shot put list.
In the 800-meter run, sophomore Chelsea Smith broke into the top-five on the program’s indoor list in the race after clocking a 2:17.14 and was third overall. Alicia DeCastro was fifth in the race with her new career-best time of 2:23.09.
Another personal-record was set in the weight throw as senior Briana O’Grady set a new standard with a 50’ 1.25” (15.27m). She finished sixth overall in the event. Carrie Abraham was Elon’s top finisher in the triple jump with a 37’ 7.75 (11.47m) and was fifth.
Lauren Brzozowski was fifth in the 00-meter run with a time of 25.97 and was also seventh in the 400-meters with a 58.57. Desiree Ross was eighth with a time of 58.60 to round out the top-10 finishers for the Phoenix in the event.
Elon’s 4×400-meter relay team of Ross, Katie Arbogast, Lydia Laws and Brzozowski was third overall with a time of 3:56.62. Ellie Bennett set a new personal-record in the indoor pole vault with her mark of 10’ 11.75” (3.35m) and was fourth overall.
The Phoenix returns to indoor action after the holiday break on Jan. 13-14, for the Virginia Tech Invitational.