Indoor Track: Tigers set records

By: Alex Ziolkowski, Contributing Writer 

Towson raised the bar in its second consecutive Akron Invitational last weekend, Feb. 5-6, including a new school record in the triple jump.

Saturday afternoon senior Wilhelmina Austin sprang into the field events. She set an indoor school record in the triple jump with a distance of 11.74 meters (38’6.25″) and ranked third overall for the event. Her time ranks fourth overall in program history for the triple jump, including indoor and outdoor marks.

“We treat every meet as a competition and with true purpose,” Head Coach Mike Jackson said. “We were really looking forward to the meet at Akron because it’s an opportunity to race at a larger track.”

The Tigers displayed their fierce competitive spirit coupled with sportsmanship. Many members of the team set new records.

Senior, Maggie Rampolla kicked off the field events Friday afternoon. She placed fifth in pole-vault with a height of 3.51 meters. Juniors Brynn Warrington and Courtney Rose tied for tenth place with matching heights of 3.36 meters.

Freshman, Abby Gauthier, ignited Friday night’s track events with her collegiate inception in the 5000-meters run with a time of 18:48.48. Sophomore Hannah Walter followed suit with a time of 18:118.51. Gauthier and Walter achieved personal bests.

Saturday morning Towson set its pace with record times. Junior Zanae Freeland tied for 10th place in the 60-meter dash (gold division), with a time of 7.71, the fastest time in school history. Freeland also achieved an Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) qualifying time of 24.93 placed fifth in the 200-meter dash (gold division).

Seniors Wilhelmina Austin and Katelynn Williams were neck and neck in the 60-meter hurdles. Austin finished 21st (9.154) while Williams followed 22nd (9.160) both times are tenth overall in school history.

Senior Kelsey Fiddes stood out in fourth place in the 200-meter dash with a time of 25.42. Junior Megan Kelly and freshman Arianna Waller achieved new personal bests in the 400-meter dash. Kelly finished in 14th place (59.47) and Waller followed in 15th place (59.59).

Freshman Naja McAdam placed second in the high jump with a height of 1.65 meters. Freshman Lauren Coleman placed eighth in the shot put with a personal best of 13.13 meters. Her mark ranks third in program history.

Towson’s next meet will be the Sweetheart Multi-Mix Meet Saturday in Annapolis, Maryland.