Avery Defends Championship Title; Lehigh Sets Two Program Records at Penn Relays

Thursday, April 27

Philadelphia, Pa.

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Penn Relays

Avery Defends Championship Title; Lehigh Sets Two Program Records at Penn Relays

4/29/2017 8:06:00 PM | Women's Track and Field

Complete Results (TFRRS)

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Lehigh senior Courtney Avery etched her name into the Penn Relays record book on Saturday after successfully defending her title in the High Jump Championship of America. Avery won the event for the second straight year on Saturday morning by clearing the bar at 1.82 meters, which also broke her own school record by two centimeters. In doing so, she becomes just the eighth female in the history of the Penn Relays to win multiple high jump titles in the prestigious Championship of America event, joining an impressive list of athletes that includes four Olympians - Chaunte Howard (4x), Paula Girvin (2x), Najuma Fletcher and Dora Gyorffy.

"What's happening to her right now is her technique is really coming into form," said head coach Matt Utesch. "She's really starting to feel the rhythm on her approach and she's clearing some amazing bars in practice. It's really exciting what happened today, but the competitor in her knows how much higher she can jump."

Avery's mark was one of two school records set at the meet by the Mountain Hawks. On Thursday, the distance medley relay team of Marissa Karl, Clare Severe, Rachel Okun and Maura Henderson blew past the program's DMR record by 13.49 seconds, crossing the finish line in 11:37.78 to place fifth overall.

"They're peaking, and starting to feel fresh," Utesch said. "Coach Debbie Utesch has put together some good races for them and made them believe they can do amazing things. When you have talented girls who believe in the system, you're going to have good results."

Elsewhere in the field events, Amanda Youngblood competed at the Relays for the second straight year in two different events, beginning her competition on Thursday morning in the discus where her throw of 41.90 meters landed her in 18th place overall. She later returned early Thursday afternoon to compete in the shot put, finishing 42nd overall with her 12.36-meter heave. Sophomore Tyler Bannister finished in 20th place overall in the college high jump by clearing the bar with a 1.63 meter leap.

Sophomore Noreen Byrne was one of three Patriot League runners to compete in the 400 meter hurdles, where she crossed the line in 42nd place overall in 1:03.45.

Lehigh competed in the 4x100 relay with seniors Katie Hatler, Liyala Dickens, Courtney Wu and Leah Ferguson, who placed 59th overall in 49.25 seconds. Lehigh also put a relay team in the 4x400, placing 44th overall (3:54.50) with Lindsay Voltz, Kristen Lavalle, Brooke Schaeffer and Hanna Brosky.

With the regular season now in the books, the Mountain Hawks will focus on next weekend's Patriot League Championships. Lehigh will host the championship meet at the Goodman Campus on Friday-Saturday, May 5-6.

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