Elon Sophomores Highlight Wolfpack Last Chance Qualifier

RALEIGH, N.C. – Sophomores Sydney Griffin and Tereza Novotna set new personal records in the 100-meter hurdles and 3,000-meter steeplechase, respectively, as members of the Elon University track and field team competed at the Wolfpack Last Chance Qualifier on Friday night, May 16, at Paul Derr Track.

“Tonight went really well,” said Elon head coach Mark Elliston. “Both Sydney and Tereza raced well and did a great job. Both of them will move up on the (NCAA Division I East Qualifying) list quite considerably.”

Griffin clocked in a time of 13.56 in the race, breaking her previous school mark of 13.72. The Marietta, Georgia, native was third overall in the race.

Novotna was equally impressive in the steeplechase winning the race with a time of 10:29.28, breaking her personal record time of 10:32.05 that she set last week at the Virginia Challenge.

Freshman Kimberly Johansen set a new personal record in the 1,500-meters after finishing sixth in the race with a time of 4:29.92.

Fellow freshman Jennifer Esposito and senior Bria Bell also competed for Elon in the sprint and hurdles events. Esposito ran a time 1:01.60 in the 400-meter hurdles while Bell clocked in a time of 55.86 in the 400-meter dash.

The Phoenix will find out who will compete at the NCAA Preliminary round on May 22. The preliminaries will take place in Jacksonville, Florida, on May 29-31.