Dystant, Rose Double Winners, Blazer Women Take Eight Events at Albright
READING, Pa.--First-year Alexandra Dystant and sophomore Meghan Rose of the Hood College women's track and field team led a charge that saw the Blazer women capture overall titles in eight of the 14 events conducted at Saturday’s Albright Invitational.
Dystant earned titles at 3000 meters and the mile. Rose garnered honors in the weight throw and the shot. Ten teams competed at the meet.
"Alex and Meghan speak to the diversity of this team. We are able to score in a lot of varied events," said head coach Brent Ayer. In addition to their wins, Kathryn Papuchis (55 meter hurdles), Chelsea Young (400 meters), Hannah Weis (800 meters) and the 4 x 400 meter relay team of Meghan Cahill, Sophie Grizzle, Heather Silveira and Young added victories.
In several events, the Hood women picked up multiple scoring places. In the shot, Nalla Tejera followed Rose in second. In the 55-meter hurdles, Emma Arneson added to Papuchis' effort in picking up fourth. Gretchen Whitesell also added a fourth behind Dystant's 3000 win. Silveira placed third behind Young in the 400. Miriah Stone and Jessica Zambreny added fifth and sixth place finishes to the Weis 800 win. Alyssa Peterson and Whitesell went 3-6 behind Dystant in the mile. In the 200, Young placed second and Arneson sixth.
"We still have a few holes in the line-up," observed Ayer. "But, we also have the ability in selected events to launch multiple athletes with reasonable chances of success."
Additional scoring punch was provided by Young (fifth in the 55), Chelsea Bunker (fifth in the pole vault), Arneson (sixth in the long jump) and Grizzle (sixth in the high jump).
The meet, which advertised "no team scoring," saw the Blazers out-point the remaining nine teams that competed.
"They can score it or not score it, based on the discretion of the host, I guess," said Ayer. "However, this is the second invitational we have swept this year. We have arrived at the point where we can hold our own most places we go. If you considered all the teams we have competed against this winter, we would be 36-9."
The Blazers finish the indoor season this Sunday, February 19 at the inaugural Capital Athletic Conference indoor track and field championships. The meet will be held at the George Mason University Field House with a 10:30 a.m. start slated.
