NORFOLK, Va. – The Franklin & Marshall women's outdoor track & field team wrapped up a week of training in Virginia by competing at the Betty S. Rogers Spring Break Invitational that was hosted by Virginia Wesleyan. The Diplomats captured six individual event titles and set numerous other top 10 marks in program history in what was the first meet of the outdoor season.
Four of Franklin & Marshall's six event titles came in the field events, which were won by four different individuals. Jillian Barger won the hammer throw with a toss of 43.97 meters to improve on her personal best which already ranks second in school history. Fellow thrower Rachel Caruso won the javelin with her best toss being measured at 29.65 meters.
In the jumps, Stephani Franks cleared 2.60 meters to claim the pole vault title, while Abby Lienhard was marked at 5.11 meters to win gold in the long jump. Lienhard was also second in both the 100 meter (12.87 seconds) and 200 meter (26.85 seconds) dashes. Those times are the third and fifth fastest times in school history, respectively. Tatum Evans was fourth in those same sprint events, with her 100 meter time of 13.23 seconds ranking seventh in school history. Evans later took bronze in the 400 meter hurdles (1:11.07).
The Diplomats' two victories on the track came from Sydney Dzenutis in the 1,500 meters (4:58.94) and Kate Henderson in the steeplechase (12:57.36). Dzenutis posted the eighth fastest time in school history in the 1,500 meters and also placed third in the 400 meters (1:01.91). Henderson also set a personal best in the steeplechase, improving on her time which already ranks ninth in school history. Alysse Danyi finished second only to Dzenutis in the 1,500 meters (5:18.92), while Emma Kline added another runner-up finish during the distance events as she finished second in the 3,000 meters (10:48.33).
Following a strong start to the outdoor season, the Diplomats will continue their outdoor season next weekend at the Little Three Meet which will be hosted by Gettysburg. That event gets underway on Friday, March 24 with the hammer throw and continues into Saturday.
Franklin & Marshall Individual Champions & Top 10 Performances
100 Meters
2. Abby Lienhard – 12.87 (third in school history)
4. Tatum Evans – 13.23 (seventh in school history)
200 Meters
2. Abby Lienhard – 26.85 (fifth in school history)
1500 Meters
1. Sydney Dzenutis – 4:58.94 (eighth in school history)
Steeplechase
1. Kate Henderson – 12:57.36 (ninth in school history)
Pole Vault
1. Stephani Franks – 2.60m
Long Jump
1. Abby Lienhard – 5.11m
Hammer Throw
1. Jillian Barger – 43.97m (second in school history)
Javelin
1. Rachel Caruso – 29.65m
