WATERVILLE, Maine – The Saint Joseph's College women's track and field team opened the 2025-26 indoor season with a strong all-around performance at the Colby College Elm City Classic on Saturday, highlighted by an event win in the high jump, a victory in the distance medley relay, and a New England Division III provisional mark in the triple jump.

"This was a great start to a long season. Our veterans led the way, and the freshmen were ready. This is going to be a fun group to watch as they put in the work and continue to develop over the next few months," said Head Coach Mike Burleson.

Competing at Colby's state-of-the-art indoor facility, the Monks delivered quality efforts across sprints, middle distance, relays, jumps, throws, and hurdles.

SPRINTS AND RELAYS
Sophomore Ellie Leech (Berwick, Maine) led a deep Monks group in the 60 meters, placing fifth in 8.70, with freshman Emma Jones (Poland, Maine) right behind in sixth at 8.80. First-year sprinters Kaitlin Tallman (8.87) and Hallye King (Owls Head, Maine) (8.96) finished seventh and ninth, respectively, giving Saint Joseph's four athletes inside the top nine of the event.

In the 600 meters, freshman Amber Pendleton (Warren, Maine) paced the Monks with a third-place finish in 1:45.45, while senior Alexia Young (Rochester, N.H.) added a fifth-place effort in 1:51.99. Junior Ava Smart (South Portland, Maine) posted a time of 1:53.18 for seventh, and junior Audrey Bilodeau (Lewiston, Maine) followed in eighth at 1:54.50, rounding out a solid early-season showing in the mid-distance event.

The Monks also claimed a win in the Distance Medley Relay, as the quartet of Young, Ava, Williams, Pendleton clocked 14:38.93 to secure the top spot.

DISTANCE AND MIDDLE DISTANCE
In the mile, sophomore Haley Williams (Winthrop, Maine) turned in a strong season debut, placing second in 6:00.44 to secure seven points for the Monks.

JUMPS
Junior Breya Whitman (Auburn, Maine) earned an event victory in the high jump, clearing 1.48m (4' 10.25") without a miss at the winning height. Sophomore Berkley Hutchins (Springfield, Vt.) added a seventh-place finish at 1.38m (4' 6.25"), giving Saint Joseph's two scorers in the event.

In the long jump, sophomore Ella Labrie (Gorham, Maine) led the way with a fourth-place mark of 4.80m (15' 9"), while freshman Olivea Miller (Livermore Falls, Maine) claimed eighth with a jump of 4.63m (15' 2.25"). Junior Alexis Cowan (Nottingham, N.H.) finished 10th at 4.61m (15' 1.5"), sophomore Olivia Bean (South Portland, Maine) placed 11th with 4.51m (14' 9.75"), and Tallman posted a best of 4.30m (14' 1.25") for 12th. King (4.16m), Jones (3.78m), and junior Samira Mohamed (Westbrook, Maine) (3.42m) completed a busy day on the runway for the Monks.

Labrie returned to the runway in the triple jump, where she delivered one of the top performances of the day with a fourth-place leap of 10.48m (34' 4.75"), surpassing the New England Division III provisional standard in the event.
Bean followed in eighth at 10.11m (33' 2"), with Cowan placing 10th (9.61m) and Mohamed gaining valuable experience in her series.

THROWS
Leech capped her day with a standout performance in the shot put, placing second with a throw of 10.50m (34' 5.5"). Sophomore Jemima Kabangu added a fifth-place mark of 9.79m (32' 1.5"), and Hutchins finished 10th at 8.56m (28' 1"). Freshman Grace Cunningham (Burnham, Maine) placed 11th with a toss of 8.02m (26' 3.75"), while junior Haley Lang (New Gloucester, Maine) rounded out the Monks' effort in the event at 7.58m (24' 10.5").

In the weight throw, Cunningham led the way with a sixth-place finish at 9.32m (30' 7"), and Lang added a 13th-place throw of 7.44m (24' 5") to complete a solid opening day for the Saint Joseph's throws group.

HURDLES
Bilodeau opened her season with a fourth-place finish in the 60-meter hurdles, clocking 10.04, while freshman Madalyn Guindon (Saco, Maine) earned a seventh-place finish in 11.15. The hurdle duo provided important early-season points and set the tone for continued improvement as the year progresses.

FULL RESULTS
Women's 60 Meters
Ellie Leech – 8.70 (5th)
Emma Jones – 8.80 (6th)
Kaitlin Tallman – 8.87 (7th)
Hallye King – 8.96 (9th)

Women's 600 Meters
Amber Pendleton – 1:45.45 (3rd)
Alexia Young – 1:51.99 (5th)
Ava Smart – 1:53.18 (7th)
Audrey Bilodeau – 1:54.50 (8th)

Women's Mile
Haley Williams – 6:00.44 (2nd)

Women's 60-Meter Hurdles
Audrey Bilodeau – 10.04 (4th)
Madalyn Guindon – 11.15 (7th)

Women's Distance Medley Relay
Young, Ava, Williams, Pendleton – 14:38.93 (1st)

Women's High Jump
Breya Whitman – 1.48m (4' 10.25") (1st)
Berkley Hutchins – 1.38m (4' 6.25") (7th)

Women's Long Jump
Ella Labrie – 4.80m (15' 9") (4th)
Olivea Miller – 4.63m (15' 2.25") (8th)
Alexis Cowan – 4.61m (15' 1.5") (10th)
Olivia Bean – 4.51m (14' 9.75") (11th)
Kaitlin Tallman – 4.30m (14' 1.25") (12th)
Hallye King – 4.16m (13' 7.75") (13th)
Emma Jones – 3.78m (12' 5") (14th)
Samira Mohamed – 3.42m (11' 2.75") (15th)

Women's Triple Jump
Ella Labrie – 10.48m (34' 4.75") (4th, New England DIII provisional)
Olivia Bean – 10.11m (33' 2") (8th)
Alexis Cowan – 9.61m (31' 6.5") (10th)

Women's Shot Put
Ellie Leech – 10.50m (34' 5.5") (2nd)
Jemima Kabangu – 9.79m (32' 1.5") (5th)
Berkley Hutchins – 8.56m (28' 1") (10th)
Grace Cunningham – 8.02m (26' 3.75") (11th)
Haley Lang – 7.58m (24' 10.5") (13th)

Women's Weight Throw
Grace Cunningham – 9.32m (30' 7") (6th)
Haley Lang – 7.44m (24' 5") (13th)

UP NEXT
Saint Joseph's returns to action on Saturday, December 13, competing at the USM Alumni Open hosted by the University of Southern Maine in Gorham.