Elon Track and Field: Records From Oram, Bierut Highlight Day One at Penn State National Invitational

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – Elon University track and field senior Allyson Oram set a new school-record in the 5,000-meters to highlight the Phoenix’s first day at the prestigious Penn State National Invitational on Friday evening, Jan. 31, inside the Horace Ashenfelter Indoor Track facility.

“This is a big meet with a lot of great teams here,” said Elon head track and field coach Mark Elliston. “We’re using this meet as a part of our plan to get better each week and that is what’s happening with some great performances today.”

Oram broke her own indoor school-record by nearly five seconds with a time of 17:14.44 and was second overall in the 5,000-meter Invitational race, but was the first collegiate runner to cross the finish line. Freshman Elyse Bierut clocked in second-fastest time in program history with a time 17:38.98 and was fifth overall in the regular 5,000-meter race.

“I was very excited for Ally to get second place in a very competitive field,” said Elon head cross country and assistant track and field coach Christine Engel. “She ran a strong race and set a new indoor personal-record off a slow early pace and I’m very happy with her performance at this point of the season.

“Elyse also ran very well in her second ever indoor race and her first 5K on the track during indoor competition,” Engel added. “I was very pleased with her effort and now she’s second all-time in the indoor 5K at Elon.”

In the weight throw, senior Charlise Morgan was the top finisher for the Phoenix with a throw of 50’6” (15.39m), 12th overall. Fellow senior Kayleigh Birks was 14th with a mark of 50’4.75” (15.36m).

In other first day events, sophomore Sydney Griffin had a qualifying time of 8.78 in the 60-meter hurdles for Elon. Freshman Carrie Abraham leaped a distance of 17’3.5” in the long jump and was 20th overall in the event.

The maroon and gold will conclude the final day at the invitational tomorrow with the first event, the women’s 400-meter dash, kicking off the meet at 10:30 a.m.

Day One Results