ROLLA, Mo. – The William Woods University women's track and field team opened the 2023 outdoor season with two NAIA "B" Standards hit at the Miner Invitational hosted by Missouri S&T.  The Owls had 22 top-20 finishes including eight top-5 finishes and one win, 16 PRs and three names in the WWU record book.
 
Katie French and Natalie Thomas each hit the "B" standard in their respective events with their second place finishes. French threw 13.49m in the shot, and Thomas hurled 39.55m in the javelin.
 
 
Throws

• Katie French place second in the shot put with her 13.49m throw, hitting the NAIA "B" Standard. She also placed third in the discus with a 41.26m throw.
• Natalie Thomas hit the NAIA "B" Standard with her second place, 39.55m throw.
• Ellie Emerson placed fourth in her first outing in the javelin with her 37.42m throw. Her hurl placed her fourth in the WWU record book.
• Lexi Clifford placed 14^th in the javelin with a 31.59m throw.
• Allison Kenneavy threw 10.56m for a 14^th place finish in the shot put in her first outing.

 
Distance

• Alicia Engelbrecht won the 5000m run with a new PR that placed her third in the record book (18:32.64).
• Mekayla Gibson placed second in the 5000m run in her first outing, finishing 18:49.51.
• Ellie Dimond set a new PR in the 1500m run with her seventh place, 5:01.28 finish.
• Harley Nale rounded out the top-10 in the 1500m run with a 5:05.41 time.

 
Sprints

• Ellie Dimond placed third with a 2:23.44 time in the 800m run for a new PR.
• Harley Nale finished eighth with a 2:28.27 in the 800m run.

 
Relays

• The 4x100m relay team, comprised of Gracie Wallgren, Heidi Baranauskas, Trinity Thomas, Nia Hawkins, placed fifth with a 52.51 time.

 
Jumps

• Nia Hawkins placed eighth in the long jump (5.29m) and ninth in the high jump (1.47m).
• Emma Clifford placed 13^th in the high jump, setting a new PR with her 1.42m jump.
• Trinity Thomas and Heidi Baranauskas each set PRs in the long jump. Thomas placed 14^th in the long jump (5.04m) and Baranauskas placed 17^th (4.97m).

 
Vault

• Heather Harbison placed ninth in the pole vault with a 2.75m vault, moving to second in the WWU record book in her first outing in the event.

 
 
 

The Owls next compete at the CMU Invite hosted by Central Methodist University on March 31 - April 1.
 
 
 

 
100m Dash
22 – Nia Hawkins – 13.35
 
400m Dash
20 – Emma Clifford – 1:07.21
21 – Gracie Wallgren – 1:07.48 (PR*)
24 – Lauren Imler – 1:11.67
 
800m Run
3 – Ellie Dimond – 2:23.44 (PR)
8 – Harley Nale – 2:28.27
18 – Emma Clifford – 2:43.75
 
1500m Run
7 – Ellie Dimond – 5:01.28 (PR)
10 ­– Harley Nale – 5:05.41
23 – Mekayla Gibson – 5:17.08
26 – Tara Lowe – 5:20.87 (PR*)
29 – Hailey Gerard – 5:22.90 (PR*)
34 – Kyah Weirich – 5:40.89 (PR*)
 
5000m Run
1 ­– Alicia Engelbrecht – 18:32.64 (PR, 3^rd WWU Record)
2 – Mekayla Gibson – 18:49.51 (PR*)
 
4x100m Relay
5 – Gracie Wallgren, Heidi Baranauskas, Trinity Thomas, Nia Hawkins – 52.51
 
4x400m Relay
DNF ­– Emma Clifford, Nia Hawkins, Lauren Imler, Gracie Wallgren
 
Long Jump
8 – Nia Hawkins – 5.29m
14 – Trinity Thomas – 5.04m (PR)
17 – Heidi Baranauskas – 4.97m (PR*)
 
High Jump
9 – Nia Hawkins – 1.47m (PR*)
13 – Emma Clifford – 1.42m (PR)
NH – Lauren Imler
 
Pole Vault
9 – Heather Harbison – 2.75m (PR*, 2^nd WWU Record)
NH – Ashley Strode
 
Shot Put
*2 – Katie French – 13.49m (NAIA B Standard)
14 – Allison Kenneavy – 10.56m (PR*)
 
Discus
3 – Katie French – 41.26m
20 – Allison Kenneavy – 29.88m (PR*)
 
Javelin
*2 – Natalie Thomas – 39.55m (NAIA B Standard)
4 – Ellie Emerson – 37.42m (PR*, 4^th WWU Record)
14 – Lexi Clifford – 31.59m


(PR*) indicates first time competing in that event