HUNTINGTON, W. Va. -- The women's indoor track and field program got top-five finishes in field events from Otway product Haidyn Wamsley and Ironton native Jaina Bailey, while the running quartet of Kirsten Evans, Sydney Reed, Elizabeth Middleton and Natalie Brammer each set personal bests in the one mile to lead the Shawnee State women's indoor track and field program at the Marshall Alumni Classic, which was held at the Chris Cline Athletic Complex on the campus of Marshall University in Huntington, W. Va.
Fresh off of her second consecutive First-Team All-River States Conference season in volleyball, Wamsley posted a five-foot, three-inch high jump to place second among all comers in Saturday's event, then added in a third place mark with a 16-foot, five-and-three-quarter-inch long jump. West Virginia Wesleyan's Samantha Cash was the only person to better the Northwest High School graduate in the high jump while Marshall's Mara Pearson and Haleigh Crum were the only individuals to post a better long jump than Wamsley.
Bailey, who posted a 45-foot, six-and-a-quarter inch weight throw, finished fourth in the 15-participant event. The only three individuals that bettered the Rock Hill High School grad in the weight throw were all Marshall University participants.
Evans, who placed sixth to lead all Shawnee State runners in the one mile, ran a 5:43.02 for a new personal best, while Juniper Allen ran seventh in the same event, posting a 5:46.86. Sydney Reed added in the Bears' second personal best of the event, running a 5:51.85 to finish eighth, while Amanda Salmons' 5:59.29 placed the Wheelersburg High School alum 10th. Beth Middleton's 11th place run of 6:01.34 and Natalie Brammer's 6:30.46 were each personal best outputs as well.
"The women's team had a good day and started in a great spot," Shawnee State Director of Cross Country and Track and Field Conner Flynn said. "I felt like they competed well, and ran with purpose. It was great to see high placements and personal bests in the opening weekend. I feel good about this team and where we are going, especially once we are healthy and competing as a whole group. We will continue to work to be better than we were, and that will lead us to our goals."
The rest of the performances are as follows:
60 meter hurdles: Alisabeth Taylor, ninth (11.36)
200 meter dash: Camille Hall, 16th (28.84)
800 meter run: Amanda Salmons, sixth (2:39.86), Sydney Reed, seventh (2:41.20), Beth Middleton, ninth (2:48.53), Natalie Brammer, 12th (2:57.36)
High jump: Makaela Lovely, sixth (four feet, nine inches)
Long jump: Ivy Gentry, eighth (14 feet, eight-and-a-half inches), Makaela Lovely, 12th (13 feet, three-quarters-of-an-inch)
Shot put: Olivia Newman, 11th (29 feet, one half-inch), Jaina Bailey, 14th (26 feet, one-and-a-half inches), Tashawna Young, 15th (24 feet, seven-and-three-quarters inches)
Weight throw: Olivia Newman, 14th (28 feet, one-and-a-half inches), Tashawna Young, 15th (25 feet, three-quarters-of-an-inch)
Additional
The women's indoor track and field program will be back in action Friday, Jan. 17 and Saturday, Jan. 18 -- as the Bears will compete at the Al Campbell Invitational at Akron University in Akron, Ohio Friday and the Otterbein Invitational in Westerville, Ohio Saturday. Updates will be posted to www.ssubears.com as well as to SSU Athletics social media.
