University of Delaware Athletics
University of Delaware
VCU Rams Invitational
Delaware Women Capture VCU Ram Invitational Team Title in Season Opener
3/21/2015 8:06:00 PM | Track & Field - Outdoor
RICHMOND, Va. -- The defending Colonial Athletic Association champion University of Delaware women's outdoor track & field team opened its 2015 season in impressive style Saturday as the Blue Hens won four events and captured the team title at the Virginia Commonwealth Ram Invitational.
Senior Katrina Steenkamer (St. Mark's/Rising Sun, Md.) won the 1,500 meters, Becky Gessler (Notre Dame/Ellicott City, Md.) won the 5,000 meters, freshman Jennifer Hineman (Unionville/West Chester, Pa.) captured the pole vault, and senior Amira Idris (Hylton/Woodbridge, Va.) won the long jump with a meet record leap to help Delaware post 166.5 total points and win the team title.
Host VCU was second with 143 points followed by George Mason, Wheeling Jesuit, and Howard in the 13-team field. The Hens had 23 top five finishes overall, including five second place finishes and six third place showings.
“This was a great start to our spring season,” said Delaware head coach Wendy McFarlane, the 2014 CAA Coach of the Year. “We competed against some of the top teams in Virginia and it was pleasing to see the Blue Hens leading the team scores from the beginning of the meet to the end. Amira Idris left her mark on the field to win the long jump and achieved a meet record. She is truly a force to be reckoned with this season. Everyone did an outstanding job today and we had a lot of personal best performances. The season looks very promising.”
Steenkamer won the 1,500 meters in 4:43.66, Gessler captured the 5,000 meters in 18:09.28, Hineman won the pole vault with a leap of 9-4.25, and Idris, the reigning CAA long jump champion and the 2015 ECAC indoor long jump champion, jumped to a distance of 19-5.5.
Placing second for the Hens were junior Erin McCloskey in the 1,500 meters (4:47.92), freshman Liz McGroarty in the 800 meters (2:17.69), senior Megan Flynn in the 5,000 meters (18;16.61), freshman Kristin Valko in the javelin (120-11), and the 4 x 800 meter relay team (9:43.60).
Freshman Sarah Hillman (Polytech/Dover, Del.) set a UD freshman record in the shot put as her throw of 44-2.75 broke the mark of 42-11 by Rachel Young in 2004. Hillman also finished fifth in the hammer throw (145-7.25).
Delaware will return to action March 27-28 at the Raleigh Relays at North Carolina State and March 29 at the Towson (Md.) Invitational.
AGATE:
Final Team Scoring: 1. Delaware - 166.5; 2. VCU - 143; 3. George Mason - 91; 4. Wheeling Jesuit - 70; 5. Howard - 54.5; 6. Virginia Union - 25; 7. Virginia State - 22; 8. Wagner - 21; 9. Brooks - 18; 10. Lincoln - 17; 11. Hampton - 14; 12. Richard Bland - 5; 13. George Washington - 2.
Delaware Top 10 Finishers:
1st Place - Katrina Steenkamer, 1,500m (4:43.66); Becky Gessler, 5,000m (18:09.28); Jennifer Hineman, pole vault (9-4.25); Amira Idris, long jump (19-5.5)
2nd Place - Erin McCloskey, 1,500m (4:47.92); Liz McGroarty, 800m (2:17.69); Megan Flynn, 5,000m (18:16.61); 4 x 800m Relay (Shanel Dickens, Angie Spadaccini
Katrina Steenkamer, Erin McCloskey), 9:43.60; Kristina Valko, javelin (120-11)
3rd Place - Ilana Schnaufer, 1,500m (4:48.39); Spencer Nendza, javelin (112-11); Gabrielle Alaimo, 5,000m (18:25.10); Sarah Hillman, shot put (44-2.75/UD Freshman Record); Monica Hagenauer, hammer (147-10); Shanel Dickens, 800m (2:19.78)
4th Place - Kelsey Evancho, high jump (5-5); Betsy Erlanger, 800m (2:20.68); 4 x 100m Relay (Amira Idris, Tyler Jackson, Chelsi Campbell, Toresha Foster), 48.66
5th Place - Kelly Knauer, 400m hurdles (1:07.43); Angie Spadaccini, 800m (2;23.27); Spencer Nendza, triple jump (36-3.5); Avree Wright, shot put (40-11.75); Sarah Hillman, hammer (145-7)
6th Place - Kelsey Evancho, triple jump (36-1.25); Evelyn Cubero, javelin (103-1)
7th Place - Melanie Macchiaverno, high jump (5-1); Chelsi Campbell, 400m (58.04); 4 x 400m Relay (Carolyn Darr, Toresha Foster, Hannah Pepper, Megan O'Dell), 4:03.93
8th Place - Hannah Pepper, high jump (4-11); Carolyn Darr, 400m (58.52); Megan Crowley, 400m hurdles (1:08.94)
9th Place - Spencer Nendza, long jump (16-8.75); Jade Francis, hammer (135-7)
10th Place - Megan Hart, high jump (4-9); Irene Cedano, hammer (127-3.25)
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Scott Selheimer | selheime@udel.edu | Office: 302-831-8007 | Cell: 302-562-5129
Players Mentioned
