Indoor Track Update 9

Photo: Malin Smith, Faith Banks, Caisja Chandler, Taylor Beard

University of Akron hosted the Campbell Invitational, Feb. 19. at the Akron Field House.

Below: Caisja Chandler

Twelve events took place, including the 200-meter dash, which was won by Cincinnati's Caisja Chandler. Her time of 23.84 gave her the top time in heat one as well as the overall event. The junior finished ahead senior Savannah Nevels of Bowling Green who ran a time of 24.68. Akron junior Amya Clarke came in at 24.93 for third place in the field of 12.

Below: Savannah Nevels

The win was Chandler's third in four attempts this season in the 200. Nevels is one of the top sprinters in the Mid American Conference. It was her third runner-up finish in the 200-meter dash in 2021.

Cincinnati swept the sprints as junior Faith Banks won the 400 meters at 55.43. She competed against four other athletes in her dominating win which was her first of the season. Bowling Green's Jazzlyn Gaiters was the runner-up at 58.14.

Below: Faith Banks

Akron junior Kyra Keurentjes earned a win for the host team in the 800 meters, crossing the finish line at 2:09.20. That finish now sits atop the Mid American Conference. She beat a field of 11 runners including Cincinnati sophomore Carmen Licht (2:13.64) and freshman Jodie Pierce (2:16.59) who placed second and third. Akron got another win as mile runner senior Lindsey Scarton ran a time of 4:54.67. Just as Keurentjes did, Scarton finished ahead of two Cincinnati runners. Senior Katrina Patterson and Pierce followed Scarton across the finish line at 4:55.48 and 4:56.59 respectively.

Xavier took first and second in the 3,000 meter hurdles when junior Courtney Klatt (10:01.03) and freshman Brooke Dixon (10:14.53) were the top two of 16 runners in the event. Cincinnati sophomore Maggie Breitenstein placed third at 10:16.00.

In hurdles action Victoria Abunaw got her first victory of the season when she beat five other competitors. The Cincinnati junior won with a time of 8.55, which is her fastest time of the season. Her teammate senior Katie Strauss placed second at 8.57.

Sophomore Taylor Beard stayed unbeaten in high jump action this season. She won her fourth meet with a jump of 1.79 meters, finishing well ahead of the other three competitors in the event. She has not failed to jump at least 1.78 meters the entire season. Her best jump of 1.83, recorded in Houston on Jan. 29 is the fifth best mark in the NCAA.

Below: Taylor Beard

Her teammate Rachel Coghill, a senior, took the top spot in the pole vault competition with a mark of 4.05 meters.

Akron senior Weronika Grzelak won the long jump at 5.62 meters, just ahead of her freshman teammate Fegor Clifford's leap of 5.61 meters. Bowling Green freshman Isabell Klett placed third at 5.60.

Clifford got the first win of her collegiate career in the triple jump at 12 meters. Her jump is now the longest in the Mid American Conference this season.

Cincinnati shot put thrower Malin Smith has had a strong season winning her fourth of five meets. She won with a throw of 15.66 meters and was the only thrower to toss it past 15 meters. Smith has recorded the 19th longest throw of the season. She slung it 16.17 meters on Feb. 5, at the South Carolina Invitational. Bowling Green sophomore Katie Seyfang earned the runner-up spot with a throw of 14.33 meters.

Below: Katie Seyfang

Dayton's Taylor flight won the women's weight throw at 18.01 meters. None of the other five competitors reach 16 meters.