LEWISTON, Maine – The Saint Joseph's College women's track and field team turned in a balanced effort across all event groups at the Bates Invitational and Multi on Friday and Saturday, with podium finishes in the sprints, mid-distance, hurdles, jumps, and throws, along with another New England Division III provisional mark in the 60-meter hurdles.

"Really proud of the effort today. We showed up strong across all events, and the work we've been putting in is starting to pay off. The next few weeks will be key to carrying this momentum into the conference championships," said Head Coach Mike Burleson.

"We're really starting to dial it up and stack some quality days of work," added Associate Head Coach Troy Hendricks. "As Coach Burleson said, these next few weeks are critical, and I have a lot of confidence in this group. If we keep approaching training the way we have been, the Monks will be ready to compete at a high level when championship season rolls around."

SPRINTS AND RELAYS
Junior Ava Smart (South Portland, Maine) led the Monks on the track with a second-place finish in the 200 meters, clocking 27.55 to earn eight points for Saint Joseph's.

In the 60 meters, sophomore Ellie Leech (Berwick, Maine) ran 8.63 to place 14th in prelims, followed by freshman Emma Jones (Poland, Maine) in 16th at 8.80. First-year sprinters Hallye King (Owls Head, Maine) and Ruthie Gusler (Phillips, Maine) posted times of 8.95 and 9.20, respectively, while junior Alayah Schmitz (Scarborough, Maine) crossed in 9.70 as the Monks continued to build depth in the short sprints.

In the 400 meters, freshman Amber Pendleton (Warren, Maine) placed fifth in 1:03.88, and sophomore Cheri Willems added an eighth-place finish in 1:11.27, with both also contributing later in the distance medley relay.
The distance medley relay of Pendleton, Willems, sophomore Bella Koepsell (Falmouth, Maine), and senior Alexia Young (Rochester, N.H.) placed third in 14:44.81, adding six more points in the team's relay ledger.

MID-DISTANCE AND DISTANCE
Koepsell turned in a steady performance in the 800 meters, placing fifth in 2:33.58, while Young led the way in the mile, finishing fourth in 5:55.23.

HURDLES
Junior Audrey Bilodeau (Lewiston, Maine) continued her strong early-season form in the 60-meter hurdles. She placed third in the prelims in 9.80, hitting the New England Division III provisional standard, and came back to finish fourth in the final in 9.78, improving on her preliminary mark.
Sophomore Madalyn Guindon (Saco, Maine) also advanced to the final, running 10.80 in prelims and 10.84 for seventh place in the final.

JUMPS
The Monks again showed quality and depth in the vertical and horizontal jumps.

In the high jump, freshman Olivea Miller (Livermore Falls, Maine) and junior Breya Whitman (Auburn, Maine) both cleared 1.43m (4' 8.25") to place third and fourth, respectively, with Miller taking the higher finish on attempts.

Sophomore Ella Labrie (Gorham, Maine) led a large Saint Joseph's group in the long jump, placing third with a best of 4.98m (16' 4.25") after a consistent six-jump series. Freshman Natalie Young recorded a mark of 4.19m (13' 9") for 12th, followed by sophomore Olivia Bean (South Portland, Maine) in 13th at 4.13m (13' 6.75"). Gusler (4.11m / 14th), King (4.06m / 16th), and junior Samira Mohamed (Westbrook, Maine) (3.31m / 19th) rounded out the Monks' horizontal jumps contingent.

THROWS
Leech paced the Monks in the shot put with a sixth-place throw of 10.35m (33' 11.5"), while sophomore Jemima Kabangu finished 12th at 9.64m (31' 7.5"). Sophomore Berkley Hutchins (Springfield, Vt.) posted a mark of 8.89m (29' 2"), and freshman Grace Cunningham (Burnham, Maine) and junior Haley Lang added distances of 7.81m (25' 7.5") and 7.65m (25' 1.25"), respectively, as the throws group continued to gain experience and consistency.
In the weight throw, Cunningham led the way with 11.08m (36' 4.25"), while Kabangu threw 9.20m (30' 2.25"). Hutchins (8.42m / 27' 7.5") and Lang (7.61m / 24' 11.75") completed the Monks' entries in the event.

FULL RESULTS 
Women's 60 Meters
Ellie Leech – 8.63 (14th)
Emma Jones – 8.80 (16th)
Hallye King – 8.95 (18th)
Ruthie Gusler – 9.20 (22nd)
Alayah Schmitz – 9.70 (25th)

Women's 200 Meters
Ava Smart – 27.55 (2nd, 8 pts)

Women's 400 Meters
Amber Pendleton – 1:03.88 (5th, 4 pts)
Cheri Willems – 1:11.27 (8th, 1 pt)

Women's 800 Meters
Bella Koepsell – 2:33.58 (5th, 4 pts)

Women's Mile
Alexia Young – 5:55.23 (4th, 5 pts)

Women's 60-Meter Hurdles (Prelims)
Audrey Bilodeau – 9.80
Madalyn Guindon – 10.80

Women's 60-Meter Hurdles (Finals)
Audrey Bilodeau – 9.78 (4th, NE DIII provisional)
Madalyn Guindon – 10.84 (7th, 2 pts)
Women's Distance Medley Relay
Pendleton, Willems, Koepsell, Young – 14:44.81 (3rd, 6 pts)

Women's High Jump
Olivea Miller – 1.43m (4' 8.25") (3rd, 6 pts)
Breya Whitman – 1.43m (4' 8.25") (4th, 5 pts)

Women's Long Jump
Ella Labrie – 4.98m (16' 4.25") (3rd, 6 pts)
Natalie Young – 4.19m (13' 9") (12th)
Olivia Bean – 4.13m (13' 6.75") (13th)
Ruthie Gusler – 4.11m (13' 6") (14th)
Hallye King – 4.06m (13' 4") (16th)
Samira Mohamed – 3.31m (10' 10.5") (19th)

Women's Shot Put
Ellie Leech – 10.35m (33' 11.5") (6th, 3 pts)
Jemima Kabangu – 9.64m (31' 7.5") (12th)
Berkley Hutchins – 8.89m (29' 2") (17th)
Grace Cunningham – 7.81m (25' 7.5") (21st)
Haley Lang – 7.65m (25' 1.25") (23rd)

Women's Weight Throw
Grace Cunningham – 11.08m (36' 4.25") (13th)
Jemima Kabangu – 9.20m (30' 2.25") (20th)
Berkley Hutchins – 8.42m (27' 7.5") (22nd)
Haley Lang – 7.61m (24' 11.75") (23rd)