Dec. 8, 2007

The SJU women's track team kicked off its season on Friday at the Lafayette Invitational in impressive fashion, winning six events overall. The meet in Easton, PA was attended by hosts Lafayette, Saint Joseph's, and East Stroudsburg University.

Sophomore Nicole McMullen was the meet's brightest star, piling up three victories and adding a fourth-place finish. She started the meet on the right foot for the Hawks leaping to an 18 ft.-1 ½ in. mark in the long jump. That put McMullen over a foot past her fellow competitors and Hawks, Lauren Slack (16 ft.-11 ¼ in.), Beth Getty (16 ft.-6 in.), and Erin Vanderhoof (16 ft.-3 in.) who finished second, third, and fourth, respectively.

After a fourth place finish in the 60-yard dash, McMullen won the 440-yard dash in 1:00.15. Kristen Pierce (1:04.45) and Caitlin McGrath (1:04.97) took second and fourth places.

McMullen wasn't done there, however, as she anchored the victorious 4x440-yard relay that finished in a time of 4:06.87.

Another multiple winner on Friday evening was Kristen Andrews who was on the same 4x440-yard relay and won the open 500m dash in a time of 1:20.69. Andrews led off the relay, who handed the baton to McGrath and then off to track captain, Jordan Teuber.

Other victors were Adriene Beltz (Mile) and Kristen Pierce (60-yard hurdles). Beltz, representing the lone runner from the long distance contingent as they take a rest from cross country season, won the mile in a time of 5:31.88. Pierce won the preliminaries of the hurdles event in 8.56 and then won the finals in a time of 8.60.

The Hawks will be off from racing because of finals and winter break. SJU will next be in action after the new year on January 12 at the Penn State Relays.

High Jump 3. Natalie Miller 5'3''

Long Jump 1. Nicole McMullen 18'1.5'' 2. Lauren Slack 16'11.25'' 3. Beth Getty 16'6'' 4. Erin Vanderhoof 16'3'' 8. Nohjay Nimpson 14'3''

Triple Jump 2. Nohjay Nimpson 35'0.5'' 4. Beth Getty 34'3'' 6. Erin Vanderhoof 33'10'' 7. Natalie Miller 33'0.5''

60-yard hurdles 1. Kristen Pierce 8.56/8.60 5. Jessica Chen 8.93/9.21 6. Morgan Matecki 9.34

60-yard dash 3. Jordan Teuber 7.38/7.40 4. Nicole McMullen 7.41/7.48 7. Lauren Wallace 7.68/NQ 9. Cara Quinn 7.81/NQ

220-yard dash 2. Lauren Slack 27.98 4. Cara Quinn 29.21 5. Jessica Chen 30.00

440-yard dash 1. Nicole McMullen 1:00.15 2. Kristen Pierce 1:04.45 4. Caitlin McGrath 1:04.97

500 meter run 1. Kristen Andrews 1:20.69 3. Skylar Rea 1:23.18

880 yard run 4. Kierstin Quinn 2:25.65 8. Lauren Walsh 2:35.17

1 Mile Run 1. Adriene Beltz 5:31.88

Women's 4x440-yard relay 1. SJU "A" 4:06.87 K. Andrews, McGrath, Teuber, McMullen 3. SJU "B" 4:15.08 Matecki, Pierce, Rea, Wallace