ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio track and field team is set to host the Cherry Blossom Invitational this Saturday (April 14). Field events are to begin at 10 a.m. with running events beginning at 11 a.m. The invitational can be streamed on YouTube and live results will be available.
The Ohio running programs will also be recognizing five graduating seniors. Autumn Mohan, Ethan Frisone, Madelyn Bartolone, Alyssa Christian, and Stephanie Pierce will be honored for their dedication over the years. Senior Day will start at 12:20 p.m. after the conclusion of the men's 3000m steeplechase.
The Bobcats are coming off of a successful weekend at the Duke Invitational and Golden Eagle Invitational. At the Duke Invitational, fifth year Stephanie Pierce (Fairborn, Ohio) took eighth place, clocking a season best 4:33.71 in the 1500m. Senior Alyssa Christian (Newark, Ohio) and fifth year Madelyn Bartolone (Massillon, Ohio) followed with times of 4:42.86 and 4:46.60.
In the 5000m, all three Bobcats recorded personal bests. Sophomore Kelsi Harris (Liberty Township, Ohio) crossed the finish line first for Ohio in 16:39.81. Harris took first in her heat, while freshman Alyssa Mason (Dublin, Ohio) finished in 16:43.52 for second. Sophomore Theresa Hagey (Akron, Ohio) placed first in her heat as well with a 16:50.01.
At the Golden Eagle Invitational, freshman Josie Knierim (McConnelsville, Ohio) grabbed first and second in the 100m and 200m dash with times of 12.10 and 25.37. Freshman Maggie Stewart (Wirthington, Ohio) picked up a pair of fourth-place finishes, clocking 12.73 and 26.38. Freshman Ashley Long (Hilliard, Ohio) also competed in the 200m, placing fifth with a 26.83.
Junior Imani Brown (Crown Point, Ind.) took first in the 400m, crossing the finish line in 1:00.09, while Long took seventh in 1:04.74.
In the 1500m, freshman Sara Doughman (South Lebanon, Ohio) finished second, recording a 4:38.41. Junior Kenna Loveless (Tallmadge, Ohio), sophomore Sarah Liederbach (Petoskey, Mich.), red shirt junior Bailey Roberts (North Kingsville, Ohio), freshman Morgan Roth (Brunswick, Ohio ), and sophomore Avril Moyer (Reynoldsburg, Ohio) took fifth through ninth, clocking 4:50.00, 4:52.86, 4:54.33, 4:55.23, and 5:01.44, respectively.
Brown secured first in the high jump with a jump of 1.55m, while sophomore Michaela Frey (Mechanicsburg, Pa.) grabbed first in the pole vault with a 3.15m.
Knierim placed second in the long jump with a jump of 5.27m, while senior Kassidy Betzing (Pomeroy, Ohio) took third with a jump of 5.20m. Junior Emily McKenzie (Dillsburg, Pa.) finished sixth in the long jump and first in the triple jump with jumps of 4.78m and 10.99m.
In the throwing events, fifth year Autumn Mohan (Chillicothe, Ohio) notched three first place finishes in shot put, discus, and hammer, throwing 12.72m, 45.88m, and 46.34m. Mohan's discus throw set a new meet record and moved her up to fourth in the MAC for the event.
Sophomore Mille Ryan (Vincent, Ohio) and junior Jordan Baith (Seville, Ohio) also competed in all three events. Ryan finished second in shot put with a throw of 12.09m, third in the discus with a 38.51m, and seventh in hammer with a 36.81m. Baith placed fourth in shot put with a throw of 11.22m and second in discus and hammer, recording throws of 41.57m and 45.28m.
Both relays took first with the 4x100m team of Knierim Stewart, Betzing, and freshman Rhiea Gordon (Youngstown, ohio) clocking 49.69 and the 4x400m team of Knierim, Frey, Betzing, and Gordon running a 4:21.48.
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