Strong Opener for Statesmen
Davenport–The William Penn women’s track and field team enjoyed a quality season-opening meet Saturday as it competed at the St. Ambrose Frigid Bee Invitational.
WPU placed fourth out of six teams with 82 points, while host St. Ambrose claimed the team title with 131.33 points.
Shaniah Newby (Fr., Twentynine Palms, Calif.) guided the navy and gold in her collegiate debut. She won a pair of sprints, taking the 60-meter dash title in 7.94 seconds (7.92 in the prelims) and the 200-meter dash crown in 26.47 seconds.
Ashlee Johnson (Fr.., Marshalltown, Iowa, Sociology) was an event winner as well, topping the 800-meter field in a time of 2:42.26.
Like Newby, Ashley Omoregie (So., Old Bridge, N.J.) recorded a pair of high finishes as she was third in the 400-meter dash (1:03.25) and fourth in the 200 (27.61).
Carl’Asia Spikes (Fr., Orland, Fla.) was also strong in the 60, finishing second in the prelims at 8.08 (did not compete in the finals).
Talaysia Douver (So., Lakewood, Calif., Sociology) was the squad’s best distance runner, ending up second in the 3,000-meter run in a time of 12:22.83. Fellow distance runner Michaela Kmiec (Fr., Centerville, Texas, Exercise Science) was fourth in the one-mile run (5:59.40), while Katherine Hunter (So., Bloomfield, Iowa) was also fourth in the 60-meter hurdles (9.91 seconds, 9.66 in the prelims).
Elayna VanArsdale (Sr., Bensalem, Pa., Secondary Education) paced the throwers, taking fifth in the weight throw at 49-11.25.
“I am really happy with how our athletes performed,” Head Coach Allen Friesen said. “They came out fired up and ready got after it. This was an all-around team effort.”
Next Up: William Penn is off until after the holiday break, returning to action on January 11 with a trip to Crete, Neb. to compete at the Doane Ward Haylett Invitational.
