WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Franklin & Marshall women's track & field team resumed its competition for the spring semester at Catholic's Robert Comstock Cardinal Classic on Saturday afternoon. The Diplomats had a very impressive day that was highlighted by Lauren Dunnigan winning the 60 meter hurdles, while the distance medley relay turned in the seventh-fastest time in Division III this season.
Franklin & Marshall's DMR was bested only by a pair of teams from Johns Hopkins as the relay of Katie Scott, Annalise Kauffman, Jordyn Collie, and Tara Silverman took third overall in the event with a time of 13:14.21. That mark also ranks among F&M's top 10 DMRs in program history.
In addition to that national-level feat, Dunnigan recorded the 17th-best 60 meter hurdle time in Division III this season when she won that event in a time of 9.09 seconds. That time was one-hundredth of a second faster than her mark in the heats and just two-hundredths of a second away from her school record. Dunnigan was also F&M's second finisher in the 200 meters with a time of 27.82 seconds, just bested by Bella Johnson's mark of 27.71 seconds to lead that event.
Adding to their standout DMR performances, Silverman and Kauffman added to their fantastic days in the 3,000 meter race. Silverman placed 10th in that event with the seventh-best time in school history (10:57.14), while Kauffman was just behind her in a time of 11:12.83. Other event leaders for the Diplomats included Ava Lesham (8.83; 60 meters), Brianna Coolican (1:07.62; 400 meters), Emily Jones (2:32.16; 800 meters), and Hana Hyman (6:27.35; mile).
Hayden Adams had the Diplomats' highest finish in the field events as she tied her personal best in the pole vault by clearing 2.75 meters. That is currently the sixth-best height in school history. In the jumps, Allison Huelbig cleared 1.42 meters in the high jump and Amanda Imhauser was marked at 4.48 meters in the long jump as those individuals recorded 12th and 15th place showings during their respective events.
Women's track & field will return to its home facility in the Alumni Sports & Fitness Center next weekend as the Diplomats host the Coach I Invitational on Saturday, January 25. That will be the first of back-to-back home meets for the team that is also hosting the Centennial Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships.
