ELON, N.C. - The Meredith College Avenging Angels Track & Field team traveled to Elon, North Carolina on March 13th to compete at the Phoenix Invitational, hosted by Elon University. Meredith athletes competed in a full slate of sprint, distance, hurdle, jump, and throwing events.

Meredith's sprinters opened the meet in the 100 meters. Freshman Angel Southerland led the Avenging Angels with a time of 14.15, finishing 25th while battling a strong headwind of -3.3.

In the 200 meters, sophomore Halona Bryant paced the Meredith sprinters with a 27.66 performance, finishing 19th overall. Senior Natasha Elder followed closely behind in 28.09, placing 20th.

The Angels continued to battle the heavy winds in the 400 meters as Abigail Clayton ran to a sixth-place finish in 1:02.04. Elder returned for another strong race in the event, finishing eighth in 1:04.99.

Bryant also highlighted the hurdles group in the 100-meter hurdles, clocking 17.65 to lead Meredith and set a new program record in the event.

Meredith's distance group turned in several consistent performances throughout the meet.

In the 800 meters, junior Carly O'Toole led the Angels with a time of 2:34.59, finishing 12th overall. Freshman Kaia Ramsey followed in 2:40.88, while Emma Jolliff crossed in 2:47.58.

The 1500 meters saw Meredith runners finishing closely together as freshman Juana Silva Jimenez led the group in 5:13.41, followed by Carly O'Toole in 5:13.69 and freshman Abigail Davis in 5:15.34.

Silva Jimenez returned later in the meet to lead Meredith in the 3000 meters, finishing 11th in 10:53.45. Davis followed in 11:18.70, with senior Laura Brown finishing in 12:04.56.

Meredith athletes also competed across several field events. In the pole vault, freshman Jane Gray Zechini cleared 2.78 meters (9' 1.5") to finish fourth overall. Bryant led the Angels in the long jump with a mark of 4.35 meters (14' 3.25").

The throws group delivered several solid performances. In the shot put, junior Athena Mowatt led Meredith with a mark of 9.89 meters (32' 5.5"), narrowly edging freshman Jamie Cornatzer, who threw 9.85 meters (32' 3.75"). Freshman Finley Sparks paced the Angels in the discus with a throw of 32.20 meters (105' 8").

Sophomore Bryanna Herring turned in one of the strongest field performances for Meredith in the hammer throw, placing eighth with a mark of 45.78 meters (150' 2"). Herring continued her strong season on her way to setting the program record in the hammer throw. Cornatzer added a throw of 32.63 meters.In the javelin, Mowatt again led the Angels with a mark of 24.59 meters (80' 8"), followed by Sparks at 21.59.

Head Coach Field Miller on the day, "It was a rough day with the weather but the group showed dynamic abilities to adjust to the conditions and make strong decisions in competition situations. We have a rest coming and are looking forward to getting back to work after spring break."

The Avenging Angels continue their outdoor campaign after spring break as they aim to improve marks, build depth across events, and prepare for the championship portion of the season.

RESULTS