Women’s track and field team finishes in fourth-place at Defiance Open

DEFIANCE, Ohio – The Olivet College women's track and field team kicked-off the outdoor portion of its schedule today by finishing in fourth-place (out of seven teams) at the Defiance (Ohio) College Open Meet. Olivet collected 78 total points, with Adrian College finishing in first-place.

The Comets turned in a pair of first-place finishes. Sophomore Rachael Wagner (Clinton Twp./Fraser) won the high jump, as she cleared the bar at 1.47 meters/4 feet, 9.75 inches. Sophomore Sara Wegener (Lansing/Lansing Catholic) took first in the discus throw. Her 36.77 meter/120 feet, 8 inch throw was almost six meters further than the runner-up finisher.

Wegener also finished in fourth-place in both the shot put (10.28m/33 feet, 8.75 inches) and hammer throw (37.33m/122 feet, 6 inches). Her throw in the hammer throw broke the school record. The only other top five performance in the field events was turned in by sophomore Katie Thelen (St. Johns) in the discus throw (third, 28.39m/93 feet, 2 inches).

On the track, junior Becca Gaarde (Parma/Western) was fourth in both the 100 meter hurdles (:18.53) and 200 meter dash (:27.61). Sophomore Jenna Mayle (Ionia) finished in fifth-place in the 400 meter hurdles (1:14.65). Freshman Brandi Rimmer (Flint/Carman Ainsworth) placed fifth in the 100 meter hurdles (:18.66). Running the 3,000 meter steeplechase for the first time, senior Brittany Marshall (Canton, Ga./Woodstock) was fifth (14:22.08).

Olivet will next compete at the Adrian All-American Meet next Saturday, April 7. Field events will get started at 10 a.m., followed by running events at 11 a.m.