Two More Marks Fall at Central Invite

William Penn Women's Athletics

Pella–The Lady Statesmen track team added to a nice indoor season with a couple more records Friday afternoon at the Central Dutch Athletics Classic.

Fatoumata Samura (Fr., Bronx, N.Y., Dewitt Clinton HS) set a new mark in the sprints, while Tamara Weltch (Fr., Oskaloosa, Simpson) accomplished her feat on the field.

Samura was second in the 200-meter dash in a school-record time of 26.88 seconds, breaking the previous mark of 27.43 set by teammate Alexis Swinney (Fr., McKinney, Texas, McKinney HS). The record has now been smashed three times this winter.

Weltch defeated her own program mark, tossing the weight throw a distance of 31-6.75 (old record was 31-1.75). The throw gave her the bronze in the event. She was also fifth in the shot put at 28-8.5.

Swinney topped all competitors in the 55-meter dash qualifying in 7.68 seconds, but was disqualified in the finals on a false start.

That opened the door for Shaniece Dishmon (Fr., Harvey, Ill., Thornton Township HS) to take the title in a time of 7.72 seconds, while Audre Harris (So., Junction City, Kan., Allen CC) was second at 7.83.

Swinney placed third in the 200 as well, directly behind Samura with a time of 27.26 seconds.

Harris and Sade Myers (Fr., Honolulu, Hawaii, Radford HS) captured two more titles for the navy and gold Friday. Harris was first in the 55-meter hurdles in a time of 9.02 seconds. Her qualifying time of 8.89 seconds was just 0.03 seconds shy of the NAIA’s ‘B’ qualifying standard.

Myers topped all runners in the 600-meter run in a time of 1:41.06.

Megan McDonough (Fr., Ottumwa, Eddyville-Blakesburg HS) had a solid outing in the long jump, hitting a distance of 15-8.25 for third place.

William Penn placed third out of five teams with 79 points, while Central claimed the crown at its own invitational with 121 points.

Next: William Penn travels to Mount Vernon Friday for the Cornell Hilltop Invitational.