Women’s Track & Field Begins 2016-17 Campaign at Diplomat Open
LANCASTER, Pa. – The Golden Rams hit the ground running in Lancaster, Pennsylvania to begin their 2016-17 campaign as the squad competed in the Diplomat Open Saturday.
West Chester truly shined in the 60-meter dash, considering that seven Golden Rams finished in the top 11 spots and all received PSAC qualifying marks.
Jasmine Noble came in third at 7.79 for the Golden Rams. Teammates Alyson Hall and Alexus Wike (Myerstown, Pa. / ELCO) were fifth and sixth with times of 7.83 and 7.88. Afterwards, four consecutive Golden Rams ranked eighth through 11th. Courtney Taylor (Doylestown, Pa. / Central Bucks South) provided 7.94, while Allison King finished .01 second behind her.
West Chester's Alexus Ryan contributed a time of 7.98 and Danielle Sterner at 8.01. In terms of West Chester's Top 10 in the event, several student-athletes rewrote the record book.
The Golden Rams excelled in the pole vault too with Katherine Lynch (Allentown, Pa. / Emmaus) and Sammi Lowery (Chambersburg, Pa. / Chambersburg) winning the event with a score of 10 feet and 8 inches. Additionally, they received PSAC qualifying marks.
The squad had a pair in the top ten of the long jump as well with Carleigh Greco earning fifth of 16', 7 ¾".
Caroline DiJiosia (Plymouth Meeting, Pa. / Plymouth-Whitemarsh) on the other hand managed eighth by providing a jump of 15' 11 ¾".
For the triple jump, Olivia Embleton leaped her way to a third-place finish and PSAC qualifying standard at 34' 11 ¾".
Four different Golden Rams finished in the top eight for the 800 meter run. Emily Dusellier (Harleysville, Pa. / Souderton) scored second in the event with a final time of 2:23.32. Right behind Dusellier for third place was Allison Lewis (Montrose, Pa. / Montrose) a second later. The pair met PSAC qualifying standards.
Earning fifth was Laura Slavich at 2:26.15, while Bridget Walt (Phoenixville, Pa. / Phoenixville) claimed eighth with a time of 2:29.32.
Caroline McLaughlin placed seventh at 9.51 in the 60-meter hurdles, while DiJiosia provided ninth with 9.63. Both claimed PSAC qualifying marks with their efforts. Sophomore Amanda Castellano (Hillsborough, N.J. / Hillsborough) finished 12th with a final time of 9.81.
West Chester impressed in the 400-meter dash as well, including three individuals in the top four. Dara Lindsey (Doylestown, Pa. / Central Bucks East) took home the top spot with a time of 59.99.
West Chester's DeJanee Fells (York, Pa. / Central York) finished third at 1:01.24, while Castellano came in fourth a second later. Lindsey and Fells did achieve PSAC qualifying marks in the season opener. Maggie Willis came in tenth for the Golden Rams at a time of 1:05.18.
The 200-meter dash featured three runners for the Golden Rams within the top five. Allison King finished only .17 seconds off the leader as she finished with a final time of 26.64.
Teammates Alyson Hall and Taylor came in fourth and fifth respectfully. Hall was fourth with 26.86, while Taylor produced a time of 26.97. King and Hall did manage to receive PSAC qualifying marks.
West Chester's "A" and "B" team finished first and second in the 4x400 meter relay today.
The "A" squad record a 4 minutes, 8.26 second time, which consisted of Castellano, Sara Damon, DiJiosia, and Dusellier.
The Golden Rams' "B" finished .57 seconds later to claim second. Members of the relay were Fells, King, Lewis, and Lindsey. Additionally, the "C" squad placed fifth with a time of 4 minutes, 19. 49 seconds. This was accomplished through the likes of McLaughlin, Ryan, Slavich, and Walt.
Fr. Emily Field (Pottsville, Pa. / Nativity BVM) placed tenth in the weight throw for West Chester with a toss of 38 feet and five inches.
West Chester returns next Friday, December 9th as the squad heads to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania for the Fast Times Before Finals inside Rauch Field House.
WCU Top 10 All-Time List for 60-Meter Dash
Jasmine Noble: 2nd
Ally Hall: 3rd
Alexus Wike: Tied for 4th
Courtney Taylor: 9th
Ally King: 10th
