SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Senior
Mary Kate McGranahan won the steeplechase and junior
Mia Bawendi tied her own school record in the pole vault, highlighting action for the Amherst College women's track and field team as the Mammoths opened the outdoor season in earnest at the Black & Gold Invitational on Sunday at Bryant University.
As a team, the Mammoths finished seventh of the 18 teams at the meet, scoring 41 points amongst a field primarily comprised of Division I teams as Division I Rhode Island won the meet with 154 points. Amherst had the top finish of the five Division III teams at the meet.
Next weekend the Mammoths host their only home meet of the season as the Amherst Spring Fling is set for Saturday (April 8) with events beginning at 11 a.m.
MEET HIGHLIGHTS:
* McGranahan led an excellent Amherst showing in the 3000m steeplechase. As the only non-Division I participants in the field, McGranahan won with a personal-best time of 11:01.83, while first-year
Ona Ortiz-Gudeman finished third with a time of 11:04.30 in her collegiate outdoor debut and sophomore
Claire Callon was fourth in 11:44.04. All three times are among the top 10 in New England and top 40 nationally in Division III thus far this season. McGranahan's mark set a meet record and is fifth all-time in Amherst history.
* Bawendi tied the Amherst pole vault record of 3.40m, clearing that height for the second time in her career. She shares the record with teammates
Eve Giancarlo and
Jordan Hecker after all three cleared that height last season. Bawendi was the top Division III finisher in the event and her mark ranks among the top 10 in New England this season.
* First-year
Myeh Medina was the top Division III finisher and placed 4th overall in the 400m hurdles, clocking a time of 1:06.01 in her outdoor collegiate debut, a time that ranks in the top 30 nationally. Junior
Trintje Nydam was the next Division III finisher, placing 8th overall in 1:09.08, and sophomore
Artis Phillips was not far behind, posting a time of 1:11.33 to finish 10th.
* Sophomore
Julia Schor finished 5th in the 1500m with a time of 4:44.91 while first-year
Allison Lounsbury was 12th, clocking in at 4:48.23 in her first collegiate race at that distance. Both times rank in the top 20 in New England this season.
* Sophomore
Sylvan Wold was the top Division III finisher in the 800m, placing 7th overall in a personal-best 2:19.07 that ranks among the top five times in New England this season.
* Amherst's 4x400m relay team placed seventh, the top finish among Division III squads. First-years
Piper Lentz,
Bella Lozier and
Mads Rabb, and sophomore
Margo Pedersen clocked a time of 4:08.99 that ranks among the top 10 in New England this season.
* Lentz was also the top Division III finisher in the 400m, finishing 11th overall with a time of 1:01.21 in her first collegiate 400m race. Rabb was just behind, coming in 13th in 1:01.57.
* Junior
Nora Bannon came in 10th overall and 8th among attached collegians in the 5000m with a personal-best time of 18:53.79.
* Junior
Carolina Andrade placed 10th in the javelin throw with a mark of 37.06m with first-year
Morgan Rome was just behind with a toss of 36.81m to finish 11th in her first collegiate javelin competition. Both Mammoths posted marks among the top 10 in New England this season.
