University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
UConn Northeast Challenge
Four Huskies rewrite UConn history in victory at Northeast Challenge
4/13/2019 8:45:00 PM | Women's Track and Field
STORRS, Conn.—The UConn women's track and field team hosted their annual home meet, the Northeast Challenge, on Saturday morning. The Huskies were led to victory by the record-breaking efforts from Emma Chee, Taylor Woods, Kat Surin, and Chanell Botsis.
After the conclusion of the meet, the UConn coaches and support staff celebrated the seniors in a brief ceremony at the George A. Sherman Family Sports Complex. The seniors honored today were Courtney Akerley, Susan Aneno, Laurel Bailey, Kelli Banks, Hannah Fleming, Lindsey Kane, Nicole Kelly, Hannah Parker, Ericka Randazzo, Talia Staiger, Kelsey Swanson, Surin, Haley Hasty, Nicole Faucette, and Amaris Blount.
Chee has been on a record shattering spree, during both the indoor and outdoor seasons with her previous coming at the UCF Knights Invite. The freshman pole vaulter took her performance up another level with her first-place finish of 3.83m (12-06.75). Chee has rewritten her own history with today's effort.
Woods competed in the long jump and posted a 6.34m (20-09.75) effort on the day. Her finish was not only good enough for first-place but also earned her the No.3 spot in UConn women's track and field history knocking down the 20-7.64m mark from 2015.
Surin is no stranger to the history books, setting and resetting records with her strong individual finishes in the 400 Meters and today was no exception. How fitting that on her senior day, she would run into the record books taking the No.1 time in this event with a time of 52.70. Surin surpasses a time of 52.79 that was established in 2014.
Botsis' 61.21m (200-10) effort in the hammer throw lifted her over her previous pair of records in the history books to give her the No.3 mark.
In the 100 Meter Dash, Jiana Baker led the way for the Huskies finishing second at 11.92 and following directly behind her was Shanelle Colmon at 12.11. Kennedy Arundel concluded the event with a top-30 mark of 12.91.
Baker took home gold in the 200 Meter Dash with a time of 24.62, followed by Dejanee Parms with a silver medal effort of 24.84. Kelly Ward also competed in the event posting a top-30 time of 26.46.
In the 400 Meter Dash outside of Surin, Parms finished sixth at 57.02.
In the mid-distance events, Aneno's first-place finish in the 800 Meter Run with a time of 2:05.16 was a bright spot. Ayoola Gbolade and Allie Alsup finished at three and four with times of 2:12.15 and 2:14.98 respectively. Rachel Vick crossed the finish line with a top-25 finish at 2:24.37. In the 1500 Meter Run, Vick finished 12th at 4:48.14, she was accompanied by five other Huskies in the race. Other finishers were Regan Schiappa (16th—4:50.80), Hannah Parker (18th—4:55.14), Lindsey Kane (19th—4:55.97), Emma Krebs (20th—4:56.15), and Mackenzie Pias (5:10.10).
The 5000 Meter Run was headlined by UConn with Sarah Leatherwood crossing the finish line first at 17:45.96 followed immediately by Hasty (17:46.98) and Akerley (18:18.51). Kate Daley rounded out the top-5 for the Huskies at 18:43.85.
UConn had success in the hurdles with Kristina Cherrington (1:01.63) and Tia Strackman (1:02.24) taking second and third in the 400 Meter high hurdles. Other finishes in this event were Sophia Podeszwa (11th-1:07.23) and Jada Grant (17th—1:11.38). In the 100 Meter Hurdles, Strackman posted a top-10 mark at 14.72. Podeszwa competed in this event finishing with a top-20 time of 15.84.
The 3000 Meter Steeplechase saw a trio of Huskies finish within moments of one another as Staiger led the way in second place (11:00.61) with Katelynn Romanchick directly behind at 11:36.77, and Swanson at 11:41.49. Faucette's top-10 effort let her cross the finish line at 12:30.28.
UConn entered four teams into the 4x400 Meter Relay, with the 'A' Team (Banks, Grant, Cherrington, Parms) taking gold with a time of 3:37.69. The remaining three teams finished in this order; 'D' at 3:55.94, 'B' at 4:06.69, and 'C' at 4:13.67.
Off the track and into the pits, Ward (1.62m) and Julia Silverman (1.57m) nab top-10 finishes in the high jump. Megan Biscoglio (3.38m) and Kelsie Hall (3.23m) both posted top-10 marks in the pole vault with Kelly rounding out the finishers at 3.23m. Arundel finished at fourth in the long jump with an effort of 5.61m. Ward (12th—5.19m) and Gabriella Gavalas (18th—5.07m) rounded out the finishers for the Huskies. Gavalas was the lone Husky in the triple jump, posting a bronze mark of 11.48m.
Thalia Ghalam (44.22m), Botsis (44.08), and Jamie Foster (35.82m) all posted top-10 marks in the javelin throw with Ward finishing just outside at 18.66m. Mikyla Rodger competed in the hammer throw and finished ninth overall at 49.81m.
Players Mentioned
