University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
UConn Invitational
UConn Wins 2016 Northeast Challenge
4/16/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track and Field
Meet Results
STORRS, Conn. - The UConn women's track and field team wrapped up its home meet in style, winning the 2016 Husky Northeast Challenge on Saturday, April 16 at the George J. Sherman Family-Sports Complex. The Huskies compiled 219 team points, finishing 120 points ahead of second-place Albany (99).
"This was a great meet for our team," said head coach J.J. Clark. "We competed well in several areas and had a great day for our senior recognitions. I'm so happy for these student-athletes who have helped us claim two conference championships over the past two seasons."
The meet field included Northeastern, Buffalo, Rhode Island, Albany and Southern Connecticut State University.
Connecticut secured 19 total points and three of the top six spots in the long jump, led by a gold-medal 5.92m leap from senior standout Sarah Bowens. In the same event, Odrine Belot (5.88m) and Saija Bikanova (5.63m) took second and sixth, respectively.
The Huskies cleaned up in the 800m run, taking 28 of 31 available points by securing the top four spots in the event. Senior Kat Vodopia picked up a first-place finish (2:09.84), followed by fellow upperclassmen Alexis Panisse (2:10.23), Laura Williamson (2:11.02) and Lisa Zimmer (2:11.12)
Connecticut's 4x100m relay squad (Anderson, Bowens, Joseph, Smith-Jenkins) shined in the event on Saturday, winning with a time of 45.40 seconds, which was over a full second faster than the nearest competitor.
The Huskies tallied four of the six scorers in the 1,500m run, led by a first-place mark from freshman Lindsay Kane, who crossed the finish line in career-best 4:34.77 seconds. Teammates Katie Foley (4:40.17), Lauren Scahill (4:41.06), and Maggie Christe (4:41.85) combined for 11 points in the event.
Deysha Smith-Jenkins turned in a season-best 54.11 second mark in the 400m dash, winning the event and grabbing 10 total points. Teammates Nyanka Joseph (55.50) and Paris Taft (56.71) combined for three points in the event.
Smith-Jenkins continued a stellar meet with a third gold-medal finish in the 200m dash final, finishing in 24.13 seconds, while Joseph took second with a time of 24.21 seconds and Anderson nabbed fourth (24.28).
The Huskies took all five of the top spots in the 5,000m run, earning 30 points. Freshman trio Mary Monda Oewel (17:47.60), Courtney Ackerley (17:47.68), and Ericka Randazzo (17:53.24) took the top three spots, while Alana Pearl (17:55.60) and Liz Lagoy (18:10.22) took fourth and fifth, respectively.
Ashley Wiggins paced the team in the 100m hurdles, taking third with a college-best time of 14.44 seconds, checking in ahead of teammate Bikanova (14.61), who placed sixth. Taylor Anderson added a gold medal in the 100m dash, crossing the finish line in 11.89 seconds.
The Huskies concluded the track events in style, winning the 4x400m relay with a time of 3:44.48 to take 10 total points.
Sophomore Kelli Thomas picked up four points for the squad in the hammer throw, notching a toss of 50.78m. Theresa Swanke placed fifth in the javelin throw, registering a mark of 35.79m.
Bikanova took third in the high jump with a 1.59m leap, while Belot won the triple jump with a mark of 12.57m. In the same event, Bowens (11.80m) and Melodee Riley (11.55m) combined for six points.
Senior Kelly Myers wrapped up her collegiate home career with a second-place 13.34m toss in the shot put, while Megan Chapman (45.72m) and Samantha Mazur (41.27m) each placed in the top-five in the discus throw.
Two Huskies scored in the pole vault as Gabriella Attanasio (3.36m) took fourth and Laurel Bailey (3.36m) finished fifth in the final.
Players Mentioned
