Track & Field Posts Another Successful Weekend at Penn 8-Team Select

Saturday, January 19

Staten Island, N.Y.

Temple University

Penn 8 Team Select

Track & Field Posts Another Successful Weekend at Penn 8-Team Select

1.19.19 | Women's Track and Field

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – The Temple University track and field squad wrapped up another solid weekend at the Penn 8-Team Select. The meet was highlighted by multiple personal records and season-bests along with many top-10 finishes.

Meet Highlights
> Sydney Williams kicked off the Penn 8-Team Select with a successful 60m hurdles race. In the prelims, the sophomore had a solid run of 9.07, good to qualify her through to the next round. In the finals, Williams ran a season-best 8.94, breaking 9.00 for the first time this season and earning her fourth place overall.
> Grace Moore hit the track for the first time this season, putting on an impressive performance in the mile. The junior ran the 1600m race in 4:48.90, surpassing her previous PR of 4:51.29 by over two seconds and earning second place overall. Fellow junior Kira Von Ehren ran the mile for the first time in Cherry and White, finishing seventh overall with a time of 4:57.39.
> Consistently dropping time in the 400m each week since the season opener, freshman Marissa White stuck to the pattern at the Penn 8-Team Select. White dropped nearly half a second since last weekend, finishing the race in 57.29 to best last week's time of 57.72. Junior Madison Beecher also ran her fastest 400m of the season, finishing 14th overall in 59.34.
> Sophomore Mallorie Smith had a standout performance in the 200m, finishing 14th overall with a time of 25.67. Just behind her was Beecher, who finished the race in 25.72.
> The Owls worked together in the 800m to earn four top-10 finishes. Sophomore Helene Gottlieb raced for the first time this season, finishing sixth overall with a time of 2:10.71. Junior Millie Howard finished just behind her teammate, crossing the finish line in 2:11.82 to earn seventh. Sophomore McKenzie Gelvin finished next with a time of 2:14.89, followed by senior Ashton Dunkley who placed ninth with a time of 2:15.46.
> Sophomore Aisha Brown upped her high jump season personal record to 1.73, tying her for second place overall.
> The 4x400 relay consisting of Brown, White, Gottlieb and Beecher crushed the best time for this season, finishing second with a time of 3:50.70.

From the Coach
> "It wasn't an outstanding meet, but there were many highlights and good performances from the team," said head coach Elvis Forde. "The student-athletes that didn't get the chance to run earlier in the season got to participate today, which was great to see. Kira, Millie and Helene got into the action and ran well, and we expect them to continue to improve. It was also great to see Mallorie run one of her best 200's since she came to Temple. McKenzie Gelvin had her best performance as a Temple Owl here as well, and Sydney had a season's best in the hurdles. Keegan had a wonderful mile race, and Marissa continues to show continuous improvement as a freshman and brought her time down again. The highlight of the day was probably Grace Moore. It was a PR for her, but based on her racing strategies we can see how good she is going to be as the season continues. It was an outstanding start to her indoor campaign."
> "The indoor track season is in full swing, and from here on out we must continue to get better to be competitive in the conference. Good things are happening, but we have to keep moving forward. We still have a long way to go, but we are coming back to campus feeling good about this past week of training and are looking forward to continue that into next week."

Up Next
> The Owls will be back in action next Friday, Jan. 25 when they head back to New York to compete in the Columbia Challenge. The two-day meet will begin Friday and will finish on Saturday, Jan. 26.