NASHVILLE, TN – The University of the Cumberlands women's track & field team competed across two meets over the weekend, highlighted by a national qualifying mark at Vanderbilt and multiple strong performances at the Centre Indoor Invitational and Multis.
Lea Kunstmann recorded the lone national standard of the weekend for the Patriots, hitting the NAIA B standard in the mile.
Music City Challenge
At Vanderbilt's Music City Challenge,
Lea Kunstmann led the way in the mile, clocking 5:03.33 to hit the NAIA B standard. She also competed in the 3000 meters, where she crossed in 10:03.78.
In the 800 meters,
Alex Cundiff finished in 2:21.15, while
Elisa Helferich followed closely in 2:21.27.
In the 5000 meters,
Patrober Jepchirchir turned in a time of 18:13.77, while
Anslee Crosby posted an 18:54.75 effort.
On the track in the 400 meters,
Abia Kante ran 58.25. Kante also competed in the 60 meters, running 7.83 in the preliminary round, and later posted a 25.42 finish in the 200 meters.
Centre Indoor Invitational and Multis
At Centre, the Patriots were active across the sprints, hurdles, middle distance and field events.
Aliah Laster placed fourth in the finals of the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 9.69 after running 9.76 in the prelims to qualify.
In the high jump,
Kaielle Gray cleared 1.52 meters (4-11.75) to finish seventh overall.
Analei Sarakatsannis also competed, clearing 1.42 meters (4-8.00).
The Patriots competed in both horizontal jumps. In the long jump, Gray recorded a mark of 4.60 meters (15-1.00). In the triple jump, Laster posted a 10.02-meter (32-10.50) effort, while
Analei Sarakatsannis added a mark of 9.76 meters (32-0.25).
On the track,
Kayleigh Burkhead led UC in the mile with a 5:43.46 finish.
Baylee Black followed in 5:57.30, and
Jasmin Ponce crossed in 6:09.06.
In the 800 meters,
Hope Boa ran 2:27.93,
Grace Nelson finished in 2:28.99, and
Rylee Schaffner recorded a 2:38.99 effort.
The Patriots will return to action Tuesday in Louisville, KY for the Mid-South Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships.
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