TU Women's 4x8 Dominates at League Meet
SOUTH BEND, Ind. – The Trojans kicked off the 2022 Crossroads League Track and Field Championships in style as the dominant TU 4x800-meter relay squad claimed the Purple and Gold's first victory of the meet. The Taylor women competed in nine events on Thursday afternoon, as they opening up competition at the Harris Family Track Stadium on the campus of Notre Dame.
The top-4x800 team in the nation, Brooke Studnicki, Giovanna Domene, Corinne O'Leary and Abbey Brennan, continued their streak of success as the ladies cruised to victory, beating the field by 10-seconds. The TU women gathered 10 points for the Trojans as they recorded an outstanding time of 9:04.55.
The Trojans tallied six points from the TU 10k squad. Mollie Gamble, Lynae Ackley and Madeline Purdom raced in their first-ever collegiate 10,000-meter race, and all three women finished in the top-10. Gamble posted an impressive NAIA B-standard time of 37:52.90 as she finished in fifth place overall. Ackley clocked a time of 38:20.77, ending seventh. While Purdom turned in a ninth-place finish in 39:5.79.
Patience Sakeuh earned a top-three finish in the long jump. Sakeuh soared to a distance of 5.44-meters, claiming third place in the event.
In the throwing events, two TU women turned in career-best marks. Hallie Brenner launched a lifetime-best mark in the hammer throw, recording a toss of 41.47-meters. The sophomore finished seventh place overall. In the javelin, Ahna VanderWall threw 29.53-meters to claim seventh place with her new PR.
Two sprint prelims also took place on Thursday afternoon. In the 100-meter dash prelims, Audrey Altum clocked the fifth-fastest time, 12.60, and qualified for finals on Friday. Ashley Hall sprinted to a time of 13.01 and ended 10th overall. In the 200-meter dash prelims, Eden Siples snagged the final qualifying spot for Friday as she logged a time of 26.13. Ashley Hall finished 11th with a time of 26.58.
After eight scored events, the Trojans sit in fourth place in the team standings with a total of 30 points. The Taylor women will return to the track tomorrow, as they wrap up the action at the Crossroads League Championships. Field and running events are set to begin at 11:00 am.