Friday, March 17
Tampa, Fla.
All Day
Lehigh University
at
USF Bulls Invitational
Photo by: Don Paul
Henderson Picks up Win in Strong Start to Lehigh’s Outdoor Track Season
3/18/2017 8:15:00 PM | Women's Track and Field
Complete Results – TFRRS | PDF
TAMPA, Fla. – Sophomore Maura Henderson broke the tape in the 1500m run and freshman Hannah Bonaguidi captured two podium finishes on the day to help lead Lehigh at the USF Bulls Invitational. The Mountain Hawks also earned podium finishes from seniors Kiana Wright and Courtney Avery on Saturday, which wrapped up the squad's weeklong trip to Florida to kick off the outdoor track schedule.
Lehigh turned in a strong showing in the 1500 meter run, placing five runners in the top six and six in the top nine overall. Henderson led the way with a first place time of 4:32.37, finishing just under four seconds off the school record. Bonaguidi took home third place in 4:39.06, followed by junior Laura Barnes in fourth (4:40.95), senior Brenna Clark in fifth (4:41.79), sophomore Stephanie Hayes in sixth (4:46.62) and freshman Jenn Mickens in ninth (4:50.94).
Later in the day, Bonaguidi continued her strong collegiate track debut with a runner-up finish in the 800 meter run in 2:18.30. Lehigh had another complete showing in the 800, placing four athletes in the top eight of the 21-runner field. Barnes took home fourth place in 2:19.82, Mickens finished sixth (2:20.79) and Clark finished eighth (2:21.35).
"It was a really great start for them," Utesch said of the team's middle distance group.
"You can't complain about that," Utesch said of Bonaguidi's collegiate track debut. "She was visibly nervous but I think she's clearly a competitor and just went out there and had two great races. It's a great start for her and points her in a direction that she is capable of going."
In the 5K, freshman Sydney Brannon got the day started for Lehigh with her 11th place tally, crossing the finish in 19:05.01. Lehigh had a pair of finishers in the 3,000m steeplechase, where freshman Ashleigh Crawford (11:22.06) and sophomore Stacie Nadel (11:25.88) finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
In the 100m hurdles, senior Sarah Cassidy took ninth place with a time of 15.98 seconds.
Courtney Avery leapt 1.70 meters in the high jump to take second place, and Sarah Cassidy finished sixth overall at 1.60m. Senior Kiana Wright also landed on the podium in the triple jump at 10.93 meters. Wright also led Lehigh in the long jump in sixth place at 5.30m, while Sarah Cassidy finished ninth with a new personal record of 5.14m.
"It's a little different because we have some race experience," Utesch said on the difference of the start of indoor track season versus the outdoor season. "But, because we have started our training over a bit and are bumping up our mileage again, we aren't as fresh as we were at the (indoor) Patriot League Championships, so we're starting to freshen up again. The next couple of weeks will be heavy, but we need to get back into a groove."
Lehigh will return to action next weekend with a pair of meets in the Raleigh Relays in North Carolina and the Lafayette 7-Way Invitational in Easton, Pa.
Follow Lehigh Track and Field on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
TAMPA, Fla. – Sophomore Maura Henderson broke the tape in the 1500m run and freshman Hannah Bonaguidi captured two podium finishes on the day to help lead Lehigh at the USF Bulls Invitational. The Mountain Hawks also earned podium finishes from seniors Kiana Wright and Courtney Avery on Saturday, which wrapped up the squad's weeklong trip to Florida to kick off the outdoor track schedule.
Lehigh turned in a strong showing in the 1500 meter run, placing five runners in the top six and six in the top nine overall. Henderson led the way with a first place time of 4:32.37, finishing just under four seconds off the school record. Bonaguidi took home third place in 4:39.06, followed by junior Laura Barnes in fourth (4:40.95), senior Brenna Clark in fifth (4:41.79), sophomore Stephanie Hayes in sixth (4:46.62) and freshman Jenn Mickens in ninth (4:50.94).
Later in the day, Bonaguidi continued her strong collegiate track debut with a runner-up finish in the 800 meter run in 2:18.30. Lehigh had another complete showing in the 800, placing four athletes in the top eight of the 21-runner field. Barnes took home fourth place in 2:19.82, Mickens finished sixth (2:20.79) and Clark finished eighth (2:21.35).
"It was a really great start for them," Utesch said of the team's middle distance group.
"You can't complain about that," Utesch said of Bonaguidi's collegiate track debut. "She was visibly nervous but I think she's clearly a competitor and just went out there and had two great races. It's a great start for her and points her in a direction that she is capable of going."
In the 5K, freshman Sydney Brannon got the day started for Lehigh with her 11th place tally, crossing the finish in 19:05.01. Lehigh had a pair of finishers in the 3,000m steeplechase, where freshman Ashleigh Crawford (11:22.06) and sophomore Stacie Nadel (11:25.88) finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
In the 100m hurdles, senior Sarah Cassidy took ninth place with a time of 15.98 seconds.
Courtney Avery leapt 1.70 meters in the high jump to take second place, and Sarah Cassidy finished sixth overall at 1.60m. Senior Kiana Wright also landed on the podium in the triple jump at 10.93 meters. Wright also led Lehigh in the long jump in sixth place at 5.30m, while Sarah Cassidy finished ninth with a new personal record of 5.14m.
"It's a little different because we have some race experience," Utesch said on the difference of the start of indoor track season versus the outdoor season. "But, because we have started our training over a bit and are bumping up our mileage again, we aren't as fresh as we were at the (indoor) Patriot League Championships, so we're starting to freshen up again. The next couple of weeks will be heavy, but we need to get back into a groove."
Lehigh will return to action next weekend with a pair of meets in the Raleigh Relays in North Carolina and the Lafayette 7-Way Invitational in Easton, Pa.
Follow Lehigh Track and Field on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive content, team updates and more.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Track and Field
Mid-Distance
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Mid-Distance
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Multis
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Sprint/Mid-Distance
/ Women's Track and Field
Mid-Distance/Steeple
/ Women's Track and Field
Mid-Distance
/ Women's Track and Field
Mid-Distance/Steeple
/ Women's Track and Field
Mid-Distance
/ Women's Track and Field
Steeplechase
/ Women's Track and Field
Jumps
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