LANCASTER, Pa. – It was a record-breaking day for the Franklin & Marshall women's indoor track & field team on Friday as the Diplomats hosted the Mini-Dip Invitational inside the Alumni Sports & Fitness Center. In what was the final scheduled home event of the season, F&M certainly made the most of that opportunity as Abby Lienhard set the school record in the 60 meter dash and several other individuals had marks that rank among the best in the Centennial Conference this year.
Lienhard originally broke the school record in the 60 meter dash during her preliminary heat with a time of 8.29 seconds, but she was even better during the finals as she cut another two-hundredths of a second off her time to set the new school record at 8.27 seconds. That time broke the old record of 8.36 seconds that was set by Henley Siegrist '12 in 2009 and stood for over 10 years. Lienhard's day was strong overall as she also moved up to seventh in school history in the 300 meters (45.09) and posted the 10th-best triple jump (9.30m; 30'6.25") in the Centennial Conference this year. For good measure, she also placed seventh in the long jump (4.80m; 15'9").
The Diplomats continued to dominate the mid-distance events as Sydney Dzenutis (2:25.67) and June Sanchez (2:28.93) posted the fith and seventh-best times in the conference for the 800 meters. They placed second and fourth in Friday's race. Lexi Salerno and Elizabeth O'Connell were third and fourth in the mile with personal best times of 5:19.68 and 5:21.29. Salerno's mark is the second best in school history and eighth in the conference. O'Connell's mark keeps her third in school history. Laura Greene added a seventh place finish (5:29.47) to the team during the mile. F&M also saw Freya Lindvall (19:53.03) and Alysse Danyi (20:07.35) place in the top 10 of the 5,000 meters.
Christline Edward highlighted the sprinting events with a pair of top 10 marks in school history. Her time of 27.58 seconds in the 200 meter dash placed her third in the meet. That time ranks eighth in school history and 10th in the conference this year. Edward also became the seventh-fastest individual in school history in the 60 meter hurdles (10.58). F&M wrapped up its day on the track by recording the fourth-fastest 4x400 relay in the Centennial Conference this year (4:19.36) during a runner-up performance.
Weight throw was the headline event of the field competition as all three Diplomats posted personal bests and now rank in the top 10 in school history. Jillian Barger (12.41m; 40'8.75") moved to fourth in school history and holds the seventh-best throw in the conference this season. Aspen Mazzatta (10.43m, 34'2.75") and Rachel Caruso (10.36m; 34'0") are now the ninth and 10th-ranked individuals in school history. Stephani Franks added a top five placement in the pole vault as she cleared 2.75 meters (9'0.25").
Women's indoor track & field will continue its season this coming Saturday, February 5 at East Stroudsburg during the Deschriever Invitational.
F&M Top 10 Finishes
60 meters
5. Abby Lienhard – 8.27 (NEW SCHOOL RECORD)
200 meters
3. Christline Edward – 27.58 (eighth in school history)
300 meters
4. Abby Lienhard – 45.09 (seventh in school history)
9. Tatum Evens – 46.43
500 meters
10. Holly Batchelder – 1:31.85
800 meters
2. Sydney Dzenutis – 2:25.67
4. June Sanchez – 2:28.93
Mile
3. Lexi Salerno – 5:19.68 (second in school history)
4. Elizabeth O'Connell – 5:21.29 (third in school history)
7. Laura Greene – 5:29.47
5,000 meters
6. Freya Lindvall – 19:53.03
10. Alysse Danyi – 20:07.35
4x400 meter relay
2. F&M 'A' – 4:19.36
6. F&M 'B' – 3:37.11
Long Jump
7. Abby Lienhard – 4.80m (15'9")
Triple Jump
9. Abby Lienhard – 9.30m (30'6.25")
Pole Vault
5. Stephani Franks – 2.75m (9'0.25")
Weight Throw
9. Jillian Barger – 12.41m (40'8.75")
