Consistent Depth Powers W&M To Front
FAIRFAX, VA - With eight all-conference performances highlighting the day, William and Mary women's track and field is off to a great start in its quest for a fifth-straight conference title as the Tribe leads after the first day of the CAA Championship. With 94 points, the College enjoys a healthy lead over second-place James Madison (45.50) and third-place UNCW-Wilmington (42.50). Points are awarded to the top-eight finishers in each event as the top-three performers earn All-CAA honors.The Tribe was led by five runner-up showings on the evening, led by senior Jackie Kosakowski's (Sauquoit, NY) NCAA Regional-qualifying performance in the 3,000m steeplechase. Timing a 10:50.42 for runner-up honors, Kosakowski bested the Regional standard by some two seconds and also earned an ECAC qualification in the event. Junior Karen Pulliam (North Potomac, MD) joined Kosakowski in earning All-CAA honors in the event with her time of 11:19.79 while sophomore Kate Willever (Pennington, NJ), in fifth, and freshman Abby Booker (Haddonfield, NJ), in sixth, both scored for the Tribe. W&M also had a strong showing in the 5,000m where junior Kristyn Shiring (Stafford, VA) led four scorers with her All-CAA paying runner-up finish. By timing a 17:25.66 Shiring broke the ECAC qualification standard in the event, as did third-place finisher Julia Cathcart (Starkville, MS), who ran a 17:28.10. Freshman Kaitlin Hurley (Portland, OR) just missed all-conference honors with her fourth-place time of 17:40.89 while sophomore Melle Patrick (Manama, Bahrain) claimed eighth in 17:55.63 to score for the team. Senior Becca Velarde (Albuquerque, NM) and sophomore Christy Dannenberg (Reston, VA) scored another two-three Tribe finish in the 10,000m as Velarde, in an ECAC-qualifying performance, earned runner-up and All-CAA honors with her 37:20.42 while Dannenberg raced to third and all-conference acclaim in 37:47.12. Senior Tracy Williams (Oak Hill, VA), in fifth, and sophomore Amy Maier (Morristown, NJ), in eighth, rounded out the College's scorers in the event.
In the infield, the Tribe found equal success as senior Cassidy Harris (Geneva, IL) captured All-CAA honors with her runner-up throw of 151'2" in the hammer. Senior Ayanna Jones (Richmond, VA) missed All-CAA accolades by two feet with her fourth-place distance of 139'4" while junior Liz Hager (Max Meadows, VA) scored in seventh at 136'9". In the pole vault, senior Charlotte LaRoche earned All-CAA honors with her second-place height of 11'5.75". The Tribe had three scorers in the javelin with Hager leading the contingent with her fourth-place effort of 130'2", just shy of the ECAC mark. Sophomore Brenna Blevins (Pulaski, VA) claimed fifth in the event while junior Bonnie Meekins (Herndon, VA) placed seventh. In the heptathlon, Meekins is in first with Blevins sitting in second through four completed events. Meekins won the 100m hurdles (15.35) and high jump (5'3.25") while Blevins won the shot (35'4") in today's heptathlon action.
The CAA Championships conclude Saturday.
Women - Team Rankings - 7 Events Scored
1) College of William & Mary 94
2) James Madison University 45.50
3) UNC Wilmington 42.50
4) Towson University 33.50
5) Delaware 28
6) VCU 25
7) George Mason 4.50