GETTYSBURG, Pa. – The Franklin & Marshall women's track & field team posted a program-best third place team finish at the Centennial Conference Indoor Championships, the Diplomats will be now be looking to replicate that success this weekend as they take on the outdoor championships. Gettysburg will serve as the host of the CC Outdoor Championship which begins on Friday, May 1 and continues through Sunday, May 3.
Live video and live stats will be available throughout the weekend, with schedules, performance lists, and heat sheets available on conference's championship central website.
The Diplomats had a number of standout performances that carried them to a high finish and they will be looking to repeat that this weekend. Annalise Kauffman and Mackenzie Ward are both back to defend their conference titles. Kauffman won the 800 meters a season ago and enters the meet as the No. 5 seed in that same event, with teammate Jordyn Collie posting the 12th-fastest time during the regular season.
Ward won the javelin a season ago and is the favorite to do so again as the reigning All-American is the top seed in that event which will be contested on Sunday morning. Ward will also compete in the discus event on Saturday. Max McCoy and Amanda Imhauser have the potential to add to the team score in the throwing events as they are ranked 10th and 11th, respectively, in the javelin. McCoy is F&M's top seed in the shot put, discus, and hammer – earning the No. 5 seed in shot put. In addition to her individual javelin, Imhauser will have a busy weekend as one of the top athletes in the heptathlon.
Lauren Dunnigan and Hayden Adams are lined up to compete in several events. Dunnigan is the third seed in the 100 meter hurdles, ranked fifth in the 100 meter dash, and sixth in the 200 meter dash. The holder of numerous school records will look to add to her medal haul this weekend. Adams is set to compete in the high jump, pole vault, and triple jump. Adams was an all-conference performer in the high jump during the indoor season and enters the meet as the No. 2 seed for that event. She is also ranked among the top 10 pole vaulters in the conference.
A conference champion in the 3,000 meters, Tara Silverman is another athlete to watch during the distance events. She will double up in the 5K and 10K where she enters the meet ranked third at the 5,000 meter distance. Lillian Williams is a threat to score on the track as she is ranked 12th in the 400 meters. Abby Bachman and Maddy Schultz will look to improve upon their seeds in the 400 meter hurdles and move into a scoring position. The Diplomats are also seeded fourth in both the 4x400 and 4x800 relay after earning a silver medal in the 4x800 relay during the indoor season.
Following this weekend's Centennial Conference Championships, the Diplomats are scheduled to compete in a last chance meet at Army before competing at the All-Atlantic Regional Championships which will be hosted by Ursinus.
