LANCASTER, Pa. – Elizabeth O'Connell won the 3,000 meter run while Emma Steffan posted the best mark in the Centennial Conference this season in the weight throw to highlight a strong showing from the Franklin & Marshall women's indoor track & field team at the Coach I Open on Saturday. Hosting its second event of the year, the Diplomats posted five top three finishes and numerous top 10 showings during its first event of the New Year.
O'Connell's time of 10:53.40 makes her the sixth-fastest individual in school history for the 3,000 meter event and gives her the sixth-fastest time in the conference this season. That event was an overall strength as F&M placed five in the top 10. Lexi Salerno crossed the line in third with a time of 10:59.02. She now ranks sixth in school history and ninth in the conference this season. Laura Greene (11:27.05), Freya Lindvall (11:33.99), and Alysse Danyi (11:36.17) swept the seventh through ninth positions in the race.
The Diplomats also had five top 10 finishers in the 400 meter dash, highlighted by Abby Lienhard's time of 1:04.69 which made her the runner-up on Saturday. Greene (1:05.22), Sydney Dzenutis (1:05.73), June Sanchez (1:06.76), and O'Connell (1:07.13) joined their teammate in the top 10. Christline Edward added a sixth place individual showing on the track as she finished the 200 meter dash in a time of 28.41 seconds. F&M wrapped up its day on the track with fourth place finish during the 4x400 relay.
Steffan's personal best throw of 14.18 meters (46'-6.25") in the weight throw highlighted F&M's day in the field events. That mark solidified her spot as second all-time in school history and moved her to the top of the Centennial Conference performance list this season. She was also eighth in the shot put (10.83m; 35'-6.5"). Jillian Barger added two more top 10 finishes in both the weight throw (11.79m; 38'-8.25") and shot put (9.75m; 32'-0").
In addition to excelling on the track, Lienhard added to her strong day with a third place finish in the long jump (4.81m; 15-9.5") and sixth place showing in the triple jump (8.98m; 29-5.5"). Her triple jump mark ranks among the top 10 in the conference this season. Lena Bell joined Leinhard with a pair of top 10 finishes in both the long jump (3.95m; 12'-11.5") and triple jump (8.19m; 26'-10.5"). Stephani Franks and Julianne Cadden kept the top 10 finishes coming. Franks was sixth in the pole vault (2.74m; 8'-11.75"), while Cadden placed ninth in the high jump (1.25m; 4'-1.25").
Women's track & field will now get into a more consistent schedule of competing every weekend. The Diplomats return to action next Saturday, January 22 at the Alvernia Winter Invitational.
Franklin & Marshall Top Three Finishes
Elizabeth O'Connell
1. 3,000m (10:53.40) – 5th in school history, sixth in the Centennial Conference
Abby Lienhard
2. 400m (1:04.69)
3. Long Jump (4.81m; 15'-9.5")
Lexi Salerno
3. 3,000m (10:59.62) – 6th in school history, ninth in the Centennial Conference
Emma Steffan
3. Weight Throw (14.18m; 46'-6.25")
