Rickert, Marois Get HPU Women’s Track Records In Outdoor Debut

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Freshman Christine Rickert set a new High Point University women’s track & field record in the javelin to highlight the Panthers’ performance at the Wake Forest Open on Saturday in Winston-Salem, N.C. Freshman Jill Marois tied the HPU record in the outdoor pole vault.

“Certainly, those two performances stand out on the women’s side,” said HPU head coach Mike Esposito of the record performances. “We’re looking forward to a lot of good performances from Christine and Jill. Alyssa Palenchar was also very strong in the pole vault. We’ve got to get better on the oval and we’re looking forward to running all of our distance kids in our home meet next week.”

Rickert’s record throw of 43.90 meters came on her first attempt. She placed third overall in the event. Of her six attempts, three were beyond the old school record of 42.48 meters (139-4) set by Amber Donnelly at the Wake Forest Open in 2009. Freshman Zoey Miller placed 22nd in the javelin with a throw of 31.64 meters (103-10).

Marois won the B-section of the pole vault with her clearance of 3.45 meters (11-3.75). She tied Rachel Webb’s school record from 2011. Palenchar cleared 3.20 meters (10-6) to place second while sophomore Ashton Kirby placed 10th in the event.

Freshman Lilla Lorand was HPU’s top finisher on the track, placing 16th in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1:06.10. Freshman Michelle Stolz took 22nd in 1:07.10 and freshmen Stephanie Quinn and Sara Katherine Kirkpactrick took 29th and 31st, respectively. Sophomore Emily Fischer led three HPU entrants in the 200-meter dash, placing 43rd with a time of 26.08.

HPU’s 4×100-meter relay team took 16th with a time of 51.37.

In Friday’s action, Lorand placed 26th in the 400-meter with a time of 59.27. In the 100-meter hurdles, Stolz placed 30th overall in 16.80 seconds. HPU’s only field event competitor on Friday was freshman Erica Herrmann. She won the B-section of the high jump, clearing 1.58 meters (5-2.25).

Next weekend, High Point hosts its only home meet of the season, the VertKlasse Meeting. The majority of the meet is on Saturday with feature events starting at 2 p.m. at Vert Stadium.