Track & Field Places Fifth at Princeton Invitational; Pinson Breaks Steeplechase Record

Saturday, April 16

Princeton, N.J.

All Day

Temple University

Princeton Quad

Photo by: Ben Solomon/American Athletic Conference

Track & Field Places Fifth at Princeton Invitational; Pinson Breaks Steeplechase Record

4.16.16 | Women's Track and Field

PRINCETON, N.J. – Led by gold-medal finishes from Crystal Jones and Blanca Fernandez, Temple women's track and field earned a fifth place team finish at the Princeton Invitational on Saturday afternoon with a total of 62 team points. The hosting Tigers swept the team results with 195 team points that included seven gold medals. The Owls are returning to Philadelphia with a new school record and nine personal bests.

In her first appearance in the 3000-meter steeplechase, Katie Pinson posted a time of 11:14.99 to place second overall and set a new school record in the event in the process. The record was last set in 2012 by Taylor Goldsworthy who ran a time of 11:41.44.

"For Katie to compete in this event for the first time and do so well is very impressive," said head coach Elvis Forde. "She was very happy with her performance and I am excited to see what else she can do."

Fernandez made her mark in her first outdoor meet of the season. In the 1500-meter run, the school record holder posted a time of 4:23.70 to take home the gold.

Joining Fernandez in the winner's circle was Jones, who led the pack in the high jump with a 1.70-meter jump to place first overall. The freshman also helped the 4x400-meter relay team to a seventh-place finish with a time of 3:58.49. Jones was joined by Kenya Gaston, Imani Shell and Maya Halprin-Adams in the relay.

Simone Brownlee will also return with a medal after placing second overall in the 100-meter hurdle finals. Brownlee set a new personal-best mark of 14.20 seconds in the finals behind Villanova's Shanice Grant who ran a 13.92. Brownlee added a second personal best in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1:07.67.

Juniors Sydnee Jacques and Simone Chapman placed second and third, respectively, in the triple jump. Jacques posted a jump of 11.47 meters and Chapman fell just behind with an 11.38-meter mark.

In the 3000-meter race, both Owl runners posted personal-best times, as well as top-ten finishes. Katie Leisher ran a time of 10:07.21 to place fourth overall and classmate Maddie Bixler posted a 10:35.43 to place ninth.

"Things today were good, but there are still areas where we can get better," said coach Forde. " Expectations exist to be exceeded and I think we need to continue to work heading into the end of this outdoor season."

The Owls hit the road next weekend for a Saturday meet at Morgan State University. Following the Morgan State Legacy Meet, Temple will wrap up the outdoor season with the Penn Relays followed by the American Athletic Conference Championships.