Halterman’s Record-Setting Race Highlights Final Day of Crossroads League Championships

Crossroads League Championships Central

MARION, Ind. – Taylor completed competition at the Crossroads League Championships on Friday, finishing third with 126 points.

Jaynie Halterman set a Crossroads League Championships record in the 5,000-meters at 16:28.54, nearly a minute faster than the record set a year ago for the victory. Rebekah Firestone reached the podium in the event as well, with an impressive third-place finish at 18:21.41.

Audrey Brinkruff helped Taylor start the day well by winning the steeplechase with a season-best time of 11:23.50. 

Claire Bailey continued her breakout sophomore season with a victory in the 400-meter hurdles with a career-best time of 1:02.53. Bailey also notched a fourth-place finish in the 100-meter hurdles to collect more points for the Trojans.

Kiana Siefert placed third in the 100-meter finals and finished on the podium in another event with a leap of 36 feet 11 inches in the triple jump to finish third after winning the long jump a day earlier.

The Trojans had a strong showing in the 1,500-meters, with Noel VanderWall finishing second with a time of 4:37.29, followed by Kaitlin Burden and Emersyn Funk in sixth and eighth.

Abby Mays delivered another podium finish for Taylor, this time in the 800-meters, with a time of 2:14.63, while Addie Draper bested her personal-best time by seven seconds with a mark of 2:18.37.

Both relays that competed finished in the top four, with the 4x400-meter relay placing third and the 4x100-meter relay team finishing fourth.

The Trojans will compete at the Saint Francis Fighting Chance meet in Joliet, Illinois, on May 9 and 10 before sending a handful of athletes to the NAIA Nationals Championships later in May.