Leopard Women Soar To Outstanding Efforts At Rossi Relays
The Rossi Relays provided top-level competition for the University of La Verne women's track and field team as the squad rose to the challenge with several strong individual performances Saturday in Claremont.
Leopard sophomore Katie Yeager enjoyed the lone first place finish as she leaped to a personal best of 11 feet, 5 3/4 inches in the pole vault to best a field of nearly 30 competitors.
In the distances, the Leopard team of Alysse Thummel, Yanet Urciaga, Nancy Andrade and Shelby Sato made history as the quartet combined to run 9:50.50 in the 4 x 800 meter relay for a ninth place finish, establishing a new school record in the process. Andrea Arceo turned in a solid performance in the 3000 meters, finishing 11th overall in 10:53.94. Micaela Castillo placed 16th in the 3K with a time of 11:05.43.
Losa Akauola enjoyed a pair of Top 10 placings in both the shot put and discus events. Akauola finished fifth overall in the shot put with a toss of 40 feet, 2 3/4 inches and placed seventh in the discus with a distance of 129 feet, 9 inches.
In the javelin, both Kendall Kraiss and Christina Coughlin earned Top 10 finishes with Kraiss placing sixth (119-4) and Coughlin finishing ninth (112-10).
On the track, Nicole Crutchfield earned the fastest time among D-III competitors in the 100 meters, finishing 17th in a time of 12.51. Ebony Williams finished her 100 in 12.77. La Verne's 4 x 100 meter relay team placed 10th overall in 50.08.
La Verne will commence with SCIAC competition next week as it battles Occidental, Cal Lutheran and Caltech in Eagle Rock Saturday, March 3.
