Batu-Tiako Opens Outdoor Season with Long Jump Crown

Rolla, Mo.–Abigaille Batu-Tiako (Sr., Plattsburgh, N.Y., Business Management) captured gold Saturday as the William Penn women’s track and field team began its outdoor campaign at the Missouri S&T Miner Invitational.

Batu-Tiako won the long jump event with a distance of 18-1.75. The senior also placed 17th in the 200-meter dash in 27.08 seconds.

Erica Martin (Sr., Detroit, Mich., Sports Management) had the next-best effort, placing ninth in the shot put at 39-3.75, while also finishing 22nd in the hammer throw at 127-3.

Alexandra Rose (Jr., Quincy, Ill., Exercise Science) was in the top 10 as well, taking 10th in the 100-meter dash in 13.02 seconds. The junior managed to be 21st in the 200 (27.34).

Vashansti Glover (Fr., Davenport, Iowa, Exercise Science) was a two-time top-20 placer Saturday, ending up 17th in the 100 (13.23) and 18th in the 200 (27.17).

Fellow sprinters Grace Willms (Fr., Monticello, Iowa, Psychology), who was 12th (13.04), and Lilly Ostert (Fr., Madrid, Iowa, Exercise Science), who was 20th (13.35), both competed in the 100 as well.

Phoebe Burt (Jr., Iowa City, Iowa, Sociology) managed to place in the top 20 in a pair of throws, finishing 14th in the discus at 121-3 and 16th in the shot put at 36-6.75.

“Our ladies, like they did throughout the indoor season, started outdoor competition with personal records all around,” Head Coach Victoria Vinokur said. “They were able to execute early on, which is going to help them push through the rest of the season well. Abi Batu-Tiako had a really solid start to her long jump campaign. We have been changing a lot of things, so she is gearing up to have some big jumps in the coming weeks. We are excited to watch our women progress throughout the spring.”

Next Up: William Penn travels to Pella next Thursday to compete in the Central Invitational.