WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.- The High Point University women’s field team took center stage for the Panthers on Saturday afternoon in the JDL Wake Forest Invitational in Winston-Salem, N.C. Freshman Jill Marois finished seventh in the pole vault to lead HPU.
“This was a great chance for our young field athletes to get some valuable experience,” head coach Mike Esposito said. “They got the opportunity to compete at the same venue where the conference championship will be held. With so many young athletes we feel like there is a lot of room for growth as the season continues.”
Marois was the Panthers’ top finisher of the day, matching her career high with a vault of 3.05 meters. Fellow freshman Alyssa Palenchar matched Marois but finished in ninth on total vaults. Sophomore Ashton Kirbyfinished in 11th with a vault of 2.90 meters.
Freshman Erica Herrmann finished in 10th in the high jump after clearing a career-high 1.53 meters. Two other HPU athletes tied for 14th as freshmen Sara Katherine Kirkpatrick and Olivia Orrill both set career-highs with 1.48 meters.
Freshman Christine Rickert recorded a new career-high in the weight throw with a toss of 9.22 meters to finish in 17th for the day.
High Point will return to action next weekend when the Panthers head to Lynchburg, Va., to compete in the Liberty Open.