Sophomore Emily Richards sets school record to lead Women's Track & Field at the Mike Lint Alumni Open

By Ashley Birchmeier

ALLENDALE, Mich. — Sophomore Emily Richards led the Ohio Northern women's track & field team Saturday at the Mike Lint Alumni Open hosted by Grand Valley State University at the Kelly Family Sports Center.

ONU saw three school records fall in the meet as Richards, senior Allison Gast and junior Kelsey Commager all set new records in their respective events.

Richards set a new school record in the 800-meter run, winning the event with a time of 2:12.65. She beat the previous time of 2:14.29 set by Erin Hipp in 1998.

Senior Allison Gast also had a storng day finishing sixth in the 60-meter dash and breaking the school record with a time of :07.96. The senior also tied the school record in the 200-meter run finishing in :26.90.

Commager broke the school record in the triple jump, winning the event with a leap of 36 feet 6.75 inches.

Freshman Stephanie Walton finished sixth in the triple jump with a leap of 35 feet 2 inches.

Freshman Maddie Reed and sophomore Kelly Wollenslegel also claimed top finishes in the meet. Reed claimed third in the pole vault clearing a height of 11 feet 7.25 inches setting a new ONU freshman record, while Wollenslegel took fifth with a height of 10 feet 7.50 inches.

The 4x400 relay team of junior Meagan Ellinger, junior Michelle Mosler, senior Kristine Wagner and Richards finished fifth with a time of 4:01.34.

Senior Rebekah McCutchen earned a top ten finish in the meet taking ninth in the 1-mile with a time of 5:16.07.

In the weight throw, junior Rebecca Olashuk finished 10th with a new personal record of 49 feet 7.75 inches.

"We were really competitve," said head coach Jason Maus. "I am excited with where we are at and how we competed today."

The women return to action Saturday as they host the Joe Banks Invitational.