Track and field teams vault past competition at home

The Washington University women’s track and field team finished third of 28 and the men’s team placed fourth of 32 at the Washington University Invitational Friday and Saturday.

The women’s team scored 70.5 points, falling behind first-place Saint Louis University (128) and Illinois Wesleyan University (74.33). The men scored 56 points, losing to first-place University of Wisconsin-Platteville (101.5), Monmouth University (69) and Southwest Baptist University (64).

“It was a very productive meet, and I thought we did great overall,” head coach Jeff Stiles said. “We’re doing well as a whole, and I think we competed well.”

On the women’s side, freshman Lucy Cheadle and sophomore Anna Etherington led the Bears. Cheadle won the 5,000-meter race with a time of 17:10.23, which is the third fastest time in Wash. U. history. Sophomore Sarah Fisher finished second in the event with a time of 17:25.15, breaking her previous record by more than a minute. Etherington won the pole vault with a height of 3.75 meters, her personal-best and second-best record in Wash. U. history. Sophomore Moira Killoran and freshman Claire Simons finished fourth and fifth with heights of 3.20 meters and 3.05 meters, respectively.

The Bears also competed well in the women’s javelin as freshman Melissa Gilkey and senior Alison Andrews finished with career-best distances. Gilkey recorded a distance of 38.94 meters, placing third in the meet and second in school history. Andrews placed fourth with a distance of 35.44 meters, a distance ranking third in school history. In the women’s heptathlon, junior Lauren Mardis scored the third highest point total in school history at (3,132), finishing 18th in the meet.

In the 3,000-meter steeplechase, senior Lacey Vogel placed third and recorded a season-best time of 11:39.67. Sophomore Shannon Howell competed well in the 400-meter hurdle, placing third and recording a time of 1:04.85.

Though the men’s side did not have any event winners, they finished with four event runners-up. In the javelin, senior Ben Cutting posted a 52.01-meter throw and finished second. In the high jump, senior Justin Pieper finished second with a height of 1.95 meters, while senior Tyler Jackson also placed second in the 110-meter hurdle, with an impressive time of 14.64.

Sophomore Kevin Sparks finished with a time of 30:31.88 in the 10,000-meter race, placing second place in the meet and third in school history. Senior Michael Burnstein and junior David Hamm finished with times of 30:36.67 and 31:05.18, placing third and sixth respectively.

With weekly meets coming in the next month, Stiles felt that the team has been off to a great start so far.

“Obviously, individually there’s still room for improvement,” Stiles said. “But considering that this is only the beginning of our season, I think we’re only going to get better, and I hope to see more of our kids get to the nationals.”

The Bears will be back in action on April 7, when they host the Washington University Select Meet at 12 p.m.