The womens track and field team will host the Elon Invitational March 31. The team has had only one meet this year at the Coastal Carolina Invite and head coach Mark Elliston was impressed with the teams performance.

I think it was a very good first meet of the season, Elliston said. We have to get into shape again and work on technique, like relay hand offs, but we will get there soon.

At the Coastal meet, sophomore Jessica Weaver finished well in the short distance races. In the 200-meter and 400-meter dash, she finished 17th and 20th. Senior Danielle Simmons placed 17th in the 100-meter dash and 27th in the 200-meter.

In the 800-meter run, Elon had three runners finish in the top 15. Freshman Jennine Strange [fourth], junior Jenny Pearce [11th], and junior Tara Mulcahy [15th] all ran well for the Phoenix. In the 1,500-meter run, freshman Meghan Dolan [30th], senior Emily Schmitt [31st] and junior Kelly Chencarik [32nd].

In the 3,000-meter run, freshman Caitlin Beeler and sophomore Alissa Wilke took the top two spots in the competition with times of 10:20.94 and 10:43.44.

Elon faired well in the hurdles events. Junior Dominique Price and sophomore Kimberly Abel finished 11th and 14th in the 100. In the 400-meter, senior Alice Turner and junior Julie McGowan placed 10th and 17th.

We were basically seeing where we stood against other teams, Abel said. We did well and we have great performers in a lot of events.

In the relays, Price, Simmons, Weaver and Turner finished fifth in the 4 by 100. In the 4 by 400, Strange, senior Jessica Clendenning, Weaver and Turner finished eighth.

In the jumping events, Abel placed 16th in the high jump. In the long jump Vines finished eighth, Dawson finished 15th and Abel 28th. Vines fouled in the triple jump.

Freshman Emily Gaul finished 11th in the pole vault and Clendenning was not able to make her height despite having the highest seed.

Angela Carlberg [10th] and Sara Rickert [16th] both threw well in the shot put. In the discuss throw Carlberg was fourth while Rickert finished 27th. Carlberg [13th], Gaul [15th] and Rickert [28th] all placed in the javelin throw.

Coach Elliston is happy with his whole squad but is expecting a few members to shine this spring.

Beeler, Anna Mae Flynn and Clendenning are all very important to the success of our team, Elliston said. Strange is a freshman and she has really come on strong this year.

Reporter: Brad McLaughlin - 03/15/07