SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (February 26, 2022) – Thanks to two conference championships in the sprints by the NCAC Women's Newcomer of the Year Anaya Jolivette, combined with second-place finishes by Leah Ackerman and Erin Anderson, Denison University women's track & field rose one spot and concluded the North Coast Athletic Conference Indoor Track & Field Championships on Saturday in fifth place. Oberlin College won the NCAC title with 166.50 team points while the College of Wooster and DePauw University were tied for second with 101 points and Ohio Wesleyan University was fourth with 93.50 points.

After beginning the day in sixth place with 15 points through six events, Denison got a fifth place finish from Rainer Yaeger (10.55 meters) in the triple jump and a pair of top-4 performances from Ackerman (12.35 meters; 2nd place) and Kylee Silverman (11.52 meters; 4th place) in the shot put to move up to fifth place with 32 points.

Then in the first track event of the day, Jolivette, Caliyah Bennett, Tessa Gerhardt and Lillian Wallace-Larkin combined to finish fifth in the 4x200 meter relay. That, however, would not be the end of the points Jolivette or Bennett would net for their team.

Bennett finished sixth in the 60 meter hurdle finals with a time of 9.37 seconds to keep Denison in fifth place with 39 points, but then after dropping to sixth place, Jolivette and Bennett got the Big Red back into fifth place with 53 points following the 60 meter dash finals.

Jolivette won the 60 meter dash finals with a time of 7.80 seconds, beating out Wittenberg's Lindsey Magoteaux (7.88 seconds), while Bennett was fifth at 8.12 seconds.

Then in the 800 meter run finals, Anderson (2:18.94) earned all-conference in second place while Sophia Ellerkmann (2:21.94) was fifth.

Denison remained in fifth place as Jolivette brought home her second conference title of the day, this time doing so in the 200 meter dash finals with a time of 26.02 seconds while yet again beating out Magoteaux (26.11 seconds).

In the final event of the meet, the 4x400 meter relay, Bennett got back to work and joined Ellerkmann, Tessa Gerhardt and Anderson in fifth place with a time of 4:13.46.
 
NCAC CHAMPIONSHIPS:

• Anaya Jolivette – 60 meter dash finals – 7.80 seconds
• Anaya Jolivette – 200 meter dash finals – 26.02 seconds

 
All-NCAC PERFORMANCES (TOP-3):

• Anaya Jolivette – first place in the 60 meter dash finals – 7.80 seconds
• Anaya Jolivette – first place in the 200 meter dash finals – 26.02 seconds
• Erin Anderson – second place in the 800 meter run finals – 2:18.94
• Leah Ackerman – second place in the shot put – 12.35 meters (40-06.25)

 
OTHER POINT SCORERS (TOP-8):

• Kylee Silverman – fourth place in the shot put – 11.52 meters (37-09.50)
• Rainer Yaeger – fifth place in the triple jump – 10.55 meters (34-07.50)
• 4x200 Meter Relay team – fifth place – 1:47.45 (Anaya Jolivette, Caliyah Bennett, Tessa Gerhardt, Lillian Wallace-Larkin)
• Caliyah Bennett – fifth place in the 60 meter dash finals – 8.12 seconds
• Sophia Ellerkmann – fifth place in the 800 meter run finals – 2:21.94
• 4x400 Meter Relay team – fifth place – 4:13.46 (Caliyah Bennett, Sophia Ellerkmann, Tessa Gerhardt, Erin Anderson)
• Caliyah Bennett – sixth place in the 60 meter hurdle finals – 9.37 seconds

 
NEXT UP: The Big Red will look to record their final marks of the indoor season at the Polar Bear Final Qualifier (March 4-5) in Ada, Ohio.
 
Final Results