SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (February 25, 2022) – Highlighted by an all-conference performance by Catelyn Gagnier in the pole vault and a pair of second-place finishes in the 60 meter and 200 meter dash prelims by Anaya Jolivette, Denison University women's track & field currently sits in sixth place after day one of the 2022 North Coast Athletic Conference Indoor Track & Field Championship hosted at Wittenberg University's Steemer Fieldhouse. With 15 team points, the Big Red trail fifth-place Kenyon College by two points while Oberlin College is in the lead with 71 points thanks to first-place finishes in the pole vault, weight throw and the distance medley relay.

The meet started for Denison with a trio of point scorers (top-8) in the weight throw, led by Leah Ackerman in fifth place with a long toss of 14.95 meters while Kylee Silverman took seventh overall at 14.38 meters and Tam Dzolic placed right behind her in eighth at 14.22 meters. That got the Big Red onto the scoreboard in fifth place at the time with seven points.

In the pole vault, Gagnier cleared a height of 3.49 meters to earn All-NCAC honors in third place.

In the final scoring event of the day, the distance medley relay, the combination of Julia Renetzky, Tessa Gerhardt, Aileen Schretzmayer and Cara Bodary clocked in at 13:36.40 to finish seventh overall.

In the prelims, Jolivette crossed the finish line in second place in both the 60 meter dash (7.97 seconds) and the 200 meter dash (26.17 seconds) to qualify for Saturday's finals.

In the 60 meter hurdle prelims, Caliyah Bennett placed fourth with a time of 9.28 seconds. Bennett also competed in the prelims of the 60 meter dash and finished in fifth place behind Jolivette after clocking in at 8.01 seconds.

Lastly, the Big Red also earned a pair of qualifiers for the finals on Saturday in the 800 meter run as Erin Anderson finished third with a time of 2:21.53 while Sophia Ellerkmann was eighth clocking in at 2:22.56.
 
All-NCAC PERFORMANCES (TOP-3):

• Catelyn Gagnier – third place in the pole vault – 3.49 meters (11-05.25)

 
OTHER POINT SCORERS (TOP-8):

• Leah Ackerman – fifth place in the weight throw – 14.95 meters (49-00.75)
• Kylee Silverman – seventh place in the weight throw – 14.38 meters (47-02.25)
• Distance Medley Relay team – seventh place – 13:36.40 (Julia Renetzky, Tessa Gerhardt, Aileen Schretzmayer, Cara Bodary)
• Tam Dzolic – eighth place in the weight throw – 14.22 meters (46-08.00)

 
FINALS QUALIFERS:

• Anaya Jolivette – second place in the 60 meter dash prelims- 7.97 seconds
• Anaya Jolivette – second place in the 200 meter dash prelims – 26.17 seconds
• Erin Anderson – third place in the 800 meter run prelims – 2:21.53
• Caliyah Bennett – fourth place in the 60 meter hurdles prelims – 9.28 seconds
• Caliyah Bennett – fifth place in the 60 meter dash prelims – 8.01 seconds
• Sophia Ellerkmann – eighth place in the 800 meter run prelims – 2:22.56

 
NEXT UP: The Big Red will return to the Steemer Fieldhouse on Saturday, February 26, for day two of the NCAC Indoor Track & Field Championships. Field events will begin at 10 a.m. and the track events will start at 2:30 p.m.
 
Day One Results