WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Sophomore Alyssa Palenchar set the High Point University women’s indoor track & field record in her first meet of the season as the Panthers competed in the Wake Forest Invitation at the JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem, N.C. Palenchar cleared an indoor-best 3.40 meters (11-1.75).
It was the Panthers’ first team event of the indoor season as they had just one competitor in the Liberty Kickoff back in December.
Palenchar cleared 3.10, 3.25 and 3.40 on her first attempts at each height to set the HPU indoor record and finish sixth overall. She beat her own record of 3.35 meters (10-11.75) from last season. Palenchar also owns High Point’s outdoor record of 3.65 meters (11-11.75). Also in the pole vault, freshman Madison Depner placed 12th with a height of 3.10 meters (10-2) and junior Ashton Kirby took 15th with a height of 2.70 meters (8-10).
Freshman Natalia Ocasio earned the Panthers’ top overall finish of the day, placing second in the mile with a time of 5:14.45. Sophomore Rebecca Baldinger placed 12th in that event. Sophomore Erika Peoples placed sixth in the 5,000-meter. In the 800-meter, sophomores Lilla Lorand and Sara Katherine Kirkpatrick placed 13th and 14th, respectively.
Freshman Alexis Fernandez placed fifth in the triple jump with a distance of 11.53 meters (37-10) in her first collegiate competition. Freshman Jenny Mara placed sixth in the high jump with a clearance of 1.62 meters (5-3.75). Sophomore Erica Herrmann placed 14th in the high jump with a height of 1.52 meters (4-11.75) and freshman Erika Bridges placed 17th. Freshman Amanda Gregory placed 16th in the long jump with a distance of 5.12 meters (16-9.5) to lead three HPU competitors in that event.
In the throws, graduate student Lynee Pina placed 11th in the weight throw with a toss of 13.83 meters (45-4.5) and freshman Jamie Schnuck placed 15th with a throw of 12.11 meters (39-8.75) in her first time competing in the event. Schnuck was also HPU’s top finisher in the shot put, taking 20th with a throw of 10.31 meters (33-10).
Junior Emily Fischer was HPU’s top finisher in the 400-meter, placing second in her heat and 24th overall with a time of 1:01.44. Junior Shannon Corbett won her heat of the 400 and placed 30th overall. Sophomore Emily De Lena was HPU’s leader in the short sprints, placing 27th overall in the 60-meter dash and 36th in the 200-meter. HPU’s 4×400 relay team placed 17th.
The Panthers are back in action next Friday and Saturday in the Virginia Tech Invitational in Blacksburg, Va. It’s the same track that will host the Big South Championship Feb. 28-March 1.