Hawkins Breaks School Record, Youngblood Grabs Two Wins at Fast Times Meet

Friday, December 8

Bethlehem, Pa.

All Day

Lehigh University

Fast Times Before Finals

Photo by: Don Paul

Hawkins Breaks School Record, Youngblood Grabs Two Wins at Fast Times Meet

12/9/2017 9:11:00 PM | Women's Track and Field

Complete Results: TFRRS | PDF

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh women's track and field team wrapped up a highly successful weekend on Saturday at the Fast Times Before Finals meet at Rauch Fieldhouse. Lehigh picked up victories in six events over the two-day meet, including a school record pole vault from freshman Madisyn Hawkins and two wins from senior thrower Amanda Youngblood. Lehigh athletes also garnered six runner-up finishes and swept the podium in two events.

Hawkins broke the school's pole vault record in just her second collegiate meet, vaulting 3.66 meters to take home the individual title in the event, breaking teammate Kaitlyn Toman's record of 3.65m that she set last year. Toman placed third in the event on Friday by clearing 3.49 meters.

"Madisyn gives us a strong one-two punch in the vault, and honestly I don't know who the best vaulter on our team is right now," Utesch said. "Katie Toman is good and I think we can expect to see a battle back-and-forth between those two for the school record. We are fortunate to have two very classy school record holders on the team."

The multis also competed for the first time this season on Friday night with the pentathlon. Sophomore Monica McGavin was the top Lehigh finisher overall in 11th place with 2,656 points, highlighting her multi with a win in the 800m run (2:34.40) and an eighth place finish in the high jump.

In the field events on Saturday, sophomore Jordan Otto was victorious in the high jump by clearing 1.60m. She was joined in the top five by junior Olivia Reinold who tied for third (1.55m) and Alexis Wintle (5th/1.55m). Otto also led the way for LU in the long jump, where she PR-ed to place seventh overall (4.91m).

"Jordan has a lot more in the tank too," Utesch said. "She's trying to figure out her approach and it is starting to come around."

Youngblood and freshman Brittany Curtin finished one-two in the shot put, with Youngblood powering her way to the top of the leaderboard at 12.81 meters. Curtin followed in second overall out of 34 throwers at 12.42m. Youngblood also led Lehigh in a clean sweep of the podium in the weight throw with her toss of 16 meters. Senior Paige Grossman took home second place (15.73m), and Curtin completed the sweep in third (15.51m).

"I think they're going to set the standard in the Patriot League," Utesch said. "They're going to vie for the top spot all season long and having Amanda and Paige leading young Brittany couldn't be a better situation."

Lehigh also dominated in the relays on Saturday, with LU teams taking the top three spots in the 4x800, led by the quartet of Mary Casey, Erin Racano, Miranda Royds and Clare Severe winning the relay in an ECAC qualifying time of 9:30.61. Lehigh 'A' 4x400 relay team took runner-up courtesy of Skerlj, Lavalle, McConnell and Okun in 4:06.80.

In the sprints, Mariah Kozub qualified for the finals of the 60m hurdles, where she raced to a seventh place finish in 9.53 seconds. Two freshman placed in the top 10 of the 200m dash, led by Claudia Piron (26.77) in fifth and Morgan McConnell in 10th (27.06). Senior Amanda Fisher followed in 11th (27.09) and Liyala Dickens placed 14th (27.39) out of 61 competitors.

Lehigh dominated in the 500m dash, placing six athletes in the top 10 of the event that had 44 participants. Just one week after winning the 800, sophomore Brooke Schaeffer led the way in 1:17.86. She was followed by senior Hanna Brosky (1:19.23) in second place, sophomore Sophie Antonioli in fifth (1:20.38), freshman Kaja Skerlj in seventh (1:20.87), Rachel Okun (8th/1:21.46) and Erin Racano (10th/1:21.66).

"It's one thing to be where we placed at the meet, but it's another to be where we are in the league," Utesch said. "Coach Deb (Utesch) is doing an awesome with those sprint-middle distance girls and coach (Carl) Bruno brings some of the sprinters up to the 500, and he's done a good job too."

In the distance events, Kristen Lavallee took runner up in the 1000m (3:02.37), followed by Hannah Leskow in third (3:03.73).

Lehigh will now have a nearly one-month break for final exams and the holidays before picking back up again at the Wagner Invitational on January 5.

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