Elon Women’s Track & Field Phoenix Closes Out Final Day at Darius Dixon Invitational

LYNCHBURG, Va. – Senior Kimberly Johansen’s new school-record in the 1,000-meters and junior Bryanna Hames’s victory and personal-record in the shot put capped off the Elon University women’s track and field team’s stay at the Darius Dixon Invitational on Saturday, Jan. 28, inside the Liberty University Indoor Track Complex.

Johansen ran a 2:49.22 in the 1,000-meter run – breaking her own school-record in an event for the second time this season – and was second overall in the race. The Chelmsford, England, native also qualified for the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Indoor Championships in the event.

Hames won the shot put after throwing a new personal-best heave of 46’ 4.75” (14.14m). That performance is now the second-best mark in school history as the Charlotte, N.C., native becomes the third member in school history to throw 14 meters or better.

Rookie Melissa Anastasakis had the third-fastest time in school history in the 1,000-meters and was fourth overall with her time of 2:59.37. Bre’anna Warren was fifth in the shot put with a toss of 43’ 10” (13.36m).

In the triple jump, Carrie Abraham was third overall with a leap of 38’ 4.75” (11.70m). Jayna Coyle and Melody Burke were fifth and sixth with marks of 37’ 6” (11.43m) and 37’ 3.25” (11.36m), respectively.

Shelby Cuddeback set a new meet and facility record in the 3,000-meters with her new personal-best time of 9:57.68 to win the race. Elon took the first four spots of the race with Coralea Geraniotis coming in second with her time of 9:59.60, Brigid Brennan was third at 10:07.69 while Sophia Tasselmyer rounded out the top four with her time of 10:17.35.

Lauren Brzozowski was Elon’s top finisher in the 200-meters with a time of 25.39 in 12th overall. In the 400-meter dash, Desiree Ross was fourth with her time of 57.53 while Brzozowski joined her in the top-10 with a 58.64. Emily Dixon established a new personal-best in the 60-meter hurdles as the Bath, England, native clocked a 8.93 in the semi-final round.

The Phoenix closed the meet with the 4×400-meter relay team finishing sixth overall. The Elon quartet of Ross, Katie Arbogast, Lydia Laws and Brzozowski ran a 3:54.63.

Elon competes next week at the prestigious Camel City Classic hosted at the JDL Fast Track Complex on Feb. 3-4.