GORHAM, Maine – The Saint Joseph's College women's track and field team continued its impressive start to the 2025-26 indoor season at the USM Alumni Open on Saturday, collecting three school records, three event victories on the track, and three New England Division III provisional qualifying performances.

"We brought great energy and effort today and were rewarded with some impressive marks. Our ability to cover events with talent and depth continues to grow and will be a key to our success at the conference level," said Head Coach Mike Burleson.

"The caliber this group is competing at right now makes me incredibly proud," added Associate Head Coach Troy Hendricks. "To be dropping school-record performances on just meet two of the season speaks to how bought-in they are. I'm excited to see the work they put in over winter break and where that momentum takes us when we come back at the start of the new year."

SPRINTS AND RELAYS

The Monks showed depth in the short sprints, advancing two to the final in the 55 meters. Sophomore Ellie Leech (Berwick, Maine) and freshman Emma Jones (Poland, Maine) finished seventh (8.08) and eighth (8.09), respectively, after running 8.02 (Leech) and 7.98 (Jones) in the prelims. Junior Alexis Cowan (Nottingham, N.H.) clocked 8.07, freshman Kaitlin Tallman ran 8.13, and first-year Hallye King (Owls Head, Maine) posted 8.31 to round out a strong preliminary group.

In the 200 meters, freshman Olivea Miller (Livermore Falls, Maine) placed second in 27.37, hitting the New England Division III provisional standard, while Jones added a seventh-place finish in 28.87.

The Monks swept both relays on the day. In the 4x200-meter relay, the quartet of Audrey Bilodeau (Lewiston, Maine), Ava Smart (South Portland, Maine), Jones, and Tallman posted a winning time of 1:53.49. The 4x400-meter relay of Bella Koepsell (Falmouth, Maine), Alexia Young (Rochester, N.H.), Cheri Willems, and Amber Pendleton (Warren, Maine) closed the meet with another victory, clocking 4:30.61.

MID-DISTANCE AND DISTANCE

Freshman Amber Pendleton continued her strong start to the season with a school-record performance in the 500 meters, winning the event in 1:27.86. Willems followed with a third-place finish in 1:34.57, giving Saint Joseph's two of the top three spots.

In the 300 meters, junior Ava Smart broke the school record, placing third in 44.07, just ahead of Bilodeau, who finished fourth in 44.86.

Senior Alexia Young collected a runner-up finish in the 1000 meters, posting a time of 3:31.00, while Koepsell ran to second place in the mile in 5:48.35.

HURDLES

Sophomore Madalyn Guindon (Saco, Maine) turned in a solid performance in the 55-meter hurdles, placing fourth in 10.60 to add more points for the Monks' track group.

JUMPS

The vertical and horizontal jumps again proved to be a strength for Saint Joseph's.

In the high jump, Miller cleared 1.47m (4' 9.75") to finish second, while junior Breya Whitman (Auburn, Maine) cleared 1.37m (4' 6") for fifth.

The long jump saw Cowan lead the way with a seventh-place finish at 4.74m (15' 6.75"). Sophomore Olivia Bean (South Portland, Maine) followed in eighth at 4.68m (15' 4.25"), while Tallman placed 13th (4.55m / 14' 11.25"). King (3.97m / 13' 0.25") and junior Samira Mohamed (Westbrook, Maine) (3.59m / 11' 9.5") rounded out the Monks' long jump contingent.

Bean and sophomore Ella Labrie (Gorham, Maine) powered a huge day in the triple jump, combining for a 1–2 finish and two championship-caliber marks. Bean won the event with a school-record leap of 10.72m (35' 2"), hitting the New England Division III provisional standard, while Labrie took second at 10.65m (34' 11.25"), also surpassing the provisional mark.

THROWS

Leech led the Monks in the shot put with a best of 10.19m (33' 5.25"), followed by sophomore Jemima Kabangu at 9.72m (31' 10.75"). Freshman Grace Cunningham (Burnham, Maine) threw 8.71m (28' 7"), and junior Haley Lang recorded a mark of 7.99m (26' 2.75").

Cunningham highlighted the weight throw with a 10.74m (35' 3"), while Lang added a mark of 7.77m (25' 6") as the Monks' throwers continued to build on their early-season progress.

FULL RESULTS

Women's 55 Meters

• Emma Jones – 7.98 (prelims, 7th) / 8.09 (finals, 8th)

• Ellie Leech – 8.02 (prelims, 8th) / 8.08 (finals, 7th)

• Alexis Cowan – 8.07 (prelims, 9th)

• Kaitlin Tallman – 8.13 (prelims, 10th)

• Hallye King – 8.31 (prelims, 13th)

Women's 200 Meters

• Olivea Miller – 27.37 (2nd, NE DIII provisional)

• Emma Jones – 28.87 (7th)

Women's 300 Meters

• Ava Smart – 44.07 (3rd, school record)

• Audrey Bilodeau – 44.86 (4th)

Women's 500 Meters

• Amber Pendleton – 1:27.86 (1st, school record)

• Cheri Willems – 1:34.57 (3rd)

Women's 1000 Meters

• Alexia Young – 3:31.00 (2nd)

Women's Mile

• Bella Koepsell – 5:48.35 (2nd)

Women's 55-Meter Hurdles

• Madalyn Guindon – 10.60 (4th)

Women's 4x200-Meter Relay

• Bilodeau, Smart, Jones, Tallman – 1:53.49 (1st)

Women's 4x400-Meter Relay

• Koepsell, Young, Willems, Pendleton – 4:30.61 (1st)

Women's High Jump

• Olivea Miller – 1.47m (4' 9.75") (2nd)

• Breya Whitman – 1.37m (4' 6") (5th)

Women's Long Jump

• Alexis Cowan – 4.74m (15' 6.75") (7th)

• Olivia Bean – 4.68m (15' 4.25") (8th)

• Kaitlin Tallman – 4.55m (14' 11.25") (13th)

• Hallye King – 3.97m (13' 0.25") (16th)

• Samira Mohamed – 3.59m (11' 9.5") (17th)

Women's Triple Jump

• Olivia Bean – 10.72m (35' 2") (1st, school record, NE DIII provisional)

• Ella Labrie – 10.65m (34' 11.25") (2nd, NE DIII provisional)

Women's Shot Put

• Ellie Leech – 10.19m (33' 5.25") (11th)

• Jemima Kabangu – 9.72m (31' 10.75") (13th)

• Grace Cunningham – 8.71m (28' 7") (22nd)

• Haley Lang – 7.99m (26' 2.75") (26th)

Women's Weight Throw

• Grace Cunningham – 10.74m (35' 3") (13th)

• Haley Lang – 7.77m (25' 6") (19th)