HIGH POINT, N.C. — The High Point University Women’s Track & Field team hosted the VertKlasse Meeting on Saturday at Vert Stadium, getting a win in the 3,000-meter steeplechase from senior Kelsey Fraser. Senior Manika Gamble ran her second-best time in the 400-meter hurdles.
“Kelsey has been nicked up so her win in the steeplechase was a good sign,” said HPU head coach Mike Esposito. “Manika is determined to have a strong finish to her career here and her combination of running under 59 seconds in the hurdles and under 25 in the 200 was very good.”
Fraser led the final laps of the 3,000-meter steeplechase to get the win in 11:23.34. HPU sophomore Audrey Malloy placed fifth and senior Kelsey Hinchliffe placed seventh.
Gamble placed third overall in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 58.85, just off her HPU and Big South record of 58.56 from 2010. She was the top collegiate finisher, as the top two were professional athletes. Gamble came back to run a career-best 24.67 into a headwind in the 200-meter.
Sophomore Kaitlin Whittington placed third in the triple jump with a distance of 11.18 meters (36-8.25) while jumping into a headwind. She also won her heat of the 100-meter dash in 13.15 seconds and ran on HPU’s 4×100 relay.
Freshman Caitlin Griffin cleared 3.12 meters (10-2.75) to win the participation section of the pole vault. Senior Carli Antor placed third with a height of 2.97 meters (9-9). Junior Lynee Pina placed eighth in the discus with a throw of 36.31 meters (119-1) and took 10th in the javelin.
“Kaitlin Whittington is finding the board and triple jumping well,” said Esposito. “Caitlin Griffin had a good day and had three strong attempts at 10-8.”
Freshman Sarah Dorrell placed 11th in the 1,500-meter, finishing in 4:52.07. The Panthers had five runners scheduled in the 5,000-meter, but the race was cancelled due to lightening in the area.
High Point will be competing in two meets next weekend. Most of the track athletes will compete in the Raleigh Relays at NC State while most of the field event competitors will be at the Wilbur Ross Invitational in Winston-Salem, N.C.