Distance runners impress in Angry Birds Invitational

Saturday, January 18

Lehigh University

Angry Bird Invitational

Distance runners impress in Angry Birds Invitational

1/18/2014 6:16:00 PM | Women's Track and Field

Results

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh women's track and field team finished second at the Angry Birds Invitational, the first of three consecutive Mountain Hawk home meets, on Saturday inside Rauch Fieldhouse. Monmouth finished the day in first place with 186.50 team points, followed by Lehigh (133.50), Winthrop (88) and Penn (77). The Mountain Hawks put on an impressive show in the distance events, churning out three first-place finishes, while senior Brooke Astor registered her second ECAC qualifying mark of the season.

"I'm pleased with how we competed," said head coach Matt Utesch. "The kids ran tough and we had some really nice bright spots. Our distance kids are tough as nails and have done a phenomenal job of adjusting to the track in a short amount of time after the cross country season."

Senior Hannah Pierce got the day started with a first place finish in the 5000 meter run, crossing the finish line in 18:44.14. Sophmore Elizabeth Weiler claimed another Lehigh win on the distance side, finishing the mile run in a new personal-best time of 5:17.06. Sophomore Jennifer Markham continued Lehigh's impressive distance showing with a new facility record and first-place finish in the 3000 meter run with a time of 10:12.73.

Astor shined once again, turning out an ECAC qualifying time of 8.75 in the 60 meter hurdles to claim second place. The senior finished just .01 seconds after Monmouth's Katherine Frye who placed first. Astor also claimed second place in the long jump with a launch of 5.42m, while junior Serenah Polite followed in third (5.33m).

Junior Jonelle Jerwick grabbed second place with a pole vault of 3.30m. Freshman Courtney Avery recorded a high jump of 1.60m to claim third place in the event. Freshman Kiana Wright was Lehigh's highest finisher in the triple jump, coming in third with a mark of 10.97m.

Senior Danielle Albergo grabbed a pair of second-place finishes in the 200 meter and 400 meter dashes, finishing in 26.46 and 59.04, respectively.

The quartet of Albergo, Jessica Kendzor, Halie Carter and Lindsay Voltz placed second in the 4x400 meter relay with a time of 4:03.95, which was just two seconds behind the Monmouth's first-place squad.

The Mountain Hawks remain home next weekend to host the annual Lehigh-Lafayette dual meet inside Rauch Fieldhouse. Action is set to begin at 2 p.m. Saturday.