Erica Jackey Sets School Record to Lead WUSTL Track & Field at SLU Invitational
RESULTS
St. Louis, Mo., April 14, 2012 - Senior Erica Jackey broke the school record in the women’s 1,500 meters to highlight several strong performances by the Washington University in St. Louis men’s and women’s track & field teams at the Saint Louis University Invitational held Friday and Saturday, April 13-14.
Jackey earned a pair of runner-up finishes at the meet, including setting a school record in the women’s 1,500 with a time of 4:27.73. The time, which was the fastest in NCAA Division III this season, bettered the previous Washington University record of 4:28.10 set in 2011 by senior Elizabeth Phillips. Jackey also finished second in the 800 with a time of 2:12.34, which ranks fourth in Division III this season. Phillips finished third in both the 1,500 and the 800 with the third- (4:31.72) and seventh-fastest (2:13.06) times on the Division III performance list, respectively.
Washington U. had four individual champions at the meet. Senior Molly Wawrzyniak won the women’s 3,000 steeplechase with a time of 11:15.20. Her time ranks 13th in Division III this season. Sophomore Anna Etherington cleared a height of 3.80 meters to lead first- through third-place sweep in the women’s pole vault for Washington U. Freshman Claire Simons and sophomore Moira Killoran placed second and third with clearances of 3.20m and 3.05m, respectively.
On the men’s side, senior Michael Burnstein and sophomore Kevin Sparks finished first and second in the 5,000. Burnstein clocked a time of 14:45.58 to win the event, while Sparks followed in 14:49.91. Burnstein’s time ranks 10th on the Division III performance list this season.
Freshmen Nicholas Alaniva, Timothy Elliott and Kyle Engelken all cleared 4.20m to take the top three spots in the men’s pole vault. Alaniva also added a runner-up finish in the long jump with a leap of 6.36m. Senior Tyler Jackson clocked the second-fastest time in Division III in finishing third in the men’s 110 hurdles on Saturday. Jackson’s season-best time of 14.39 was bested only by an unattached runner and a runner from SLU.
Sophomore Jasmine Williams also had a big day for the WUSTL women. She cleared a career-best height of 1.67m to finish second in the high jump. The mark is tied for second on the WU all-time list, and ranks 10th in Division III this season. Sophomore Shannon Howell clocked a season-best time of 1:03.85 to place second in the 400 hurdles. Her time ranks 14th in Division III.
The Washington U. men posted four other runner-up finishes at the meet. Junior Tom Arnold (shot put and discus), and seniors Ben Cutting (javelin) and Justin Pieper (high jump) each earned second place in their respective events.
The Washington University track & field teams travel to Terre Haute, Ind., to compete at the Rose-Hulman Twilight Meet on Friday, April 20.