HPU Women’s Track & Field Recaps From Duke

Ocasio, Rickert top HPU records at Duke Twilight (Day Two)
• Junior Christine Rickert broke her own school record while winning her fourth javelin crown of 2015 (48.87m, 160-4)
• Sophomore Natalia Ocasio shaved 13 seconds off her school record time in the 3000m steeplechase (10:36.64)
• Freshman Kelly Hayes moved into the No. 2 steeple position in the Big South with a time of 11:05.60

DURHAM, N.C. – Junior Christine Rickert and sophomore Natalia Ocasio surpassed their own school records to lead the High Point University women’s track & field team on Thursday at the Duke Twilight event.

Both student-athletes broke records they set just one meet ago at April’s Highlander Invitational.

Rickert continued her quest to become the Big South’s all-time javelin record holder with another excellent showing in Durham. Rickert won the event title with a 48.87m (160-4) throw. It’s the 13th-best mark in the NCAA East Region this season and just .11m away from the all-time Big South mark set in 2004 by UNC Asheville’s Crystal Goure.

The individual javelin crown was Rickert’s fourth this season and gives her excellent momentum heading into next weekend’s Big South Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

Ocasio cut an impressive 13 seconds off her previous 3000m steeplechase record, crossing the finish line in a spectacular time of 10:36.64. The time is a top-75 mark in the NCAA East Region this season (tops in the Big South) and earned her a third-place finish in the event.

“The biggest thing with Natalia is that she’s had no interruptions in training,” assistant coach Jenna Wrieden said. “She’s healthy and getting a lot stronger in the weight room, and that’s really paid off. Natalia’s a great competitor and is knocking on the door to get to the NCAA Preliminary Round, which is very exciting.”

In addition to Ocasio, freshman Kelly Hayes ran the second-fastest steeple time in the Big South this season. The Pearl River, N.Y., native crossed the finish line in a new PR of 11:05.60 to place 10th amongst the strong field of competitors.

Also in action Thursday, sophomore Alexis Fernandez posted a season-best triple jump mark of 11.59m (38-0.25) to finish eighth in the event.

Junior Emily De Lena placed 31st in the 200m dash in a season-best time of 26.10 while sophomore Cozette Collin finished 35th in the 800 run (2:16.75).

HPU will now prepare to host the 2015 Big South Outdoor Track & Field Championships. The event will take place May 14-16 inside Vert Stadium. Tickets are $5 per day.

Women’s track finishes day one at Duke
• Junior Jamie Schnuck finished eighth in the hammer throw with a mark of 47.70m (156-6)
• Sophomore Amanda Gregory set a new PR while finishing ninth in the long jump (5.49m, 18-1.25)
• Junior Alyssa Palenchar posted a 10th-place finish in the pole vault (3.60m, 11-9.75)

DURHAM, N.C. – The High Point University women’s track & field team wrapped up the first of two days of competition at the Duke Twilight event Wednesday.

Junior Jamie Schnuck posted the best HPU finish of the day, placing eighth in the hammer throw with a mark of 47.70m (156-6). The throw was just .62m off her PR and HPU school record set earlier this season at the ECU Invite.

Junior Alyssa Palenchar led the Panthers in the pole vault with a 10th-place finish. The Bradenville, Pa., native posted a mark of 3.60m (11-9.75). Junior Jill Marois cleared the 3.60m bar on her second attempt to finish 14th and senior Catelyn Griffin finished 18th with a mark of 3.40m (11-1.75).

Sophomore Amanda Gregory just nudged her PR in the long jump with a mark of 5.49m (18-1.25). Fellow sophomore Alyn Carr was 17th with a mark of 5.21m (17-1.25).

On the hurdles circuit, junior Lilla Lorand placed 13th in the 400m event with a time of 1:03.69 and freshman Ashlynn Schiro was 15th in a time of 1:04.40. Fellow freshman CeAnna Soper placed 18th in 1:06.02.

Freshman Haley Cianfarini just missed out on her 100m hurdles PR on Wednesday with a time of 15.62 while fellow Fab Four freshman Mikaela Campbell notched a time of 16.56.

In distance action, senior Leah Anne Wirfel led HPU with a 20th-place finish in the 1500m run. Her time of 4:36.08 set a new PR by more than 10 seconds. Junior Katie Farina also set a new collegiate PR while finishing 29th (4:43.50) and fellow juniors Erika Peoples (5:01.64) and Sarah Bode (5:04.00) finished 38th and 39th, respectively.

Junior Kasey Spence finished ninth in the 5000m run with a strong PR of 19:09.94. The time was more than 16 seconds faster than her previous best in the event.