LEWISTON, Maine – The Saint Joseph's College women's track and field team turned in a solid, all-around performance at the Maine State Indoor Championships on Saturday at Bates College, earning scoring marks in the sprints, mid-distance, hurdles, relays, jumps, and throws against a deep in-state field.

"We competed well today, and I feel this group is ready for the conference championship next week," said Head Coach Mike Burleson. "Our season-long work is showing through strong performances from both our men's and women's teams. They're locking in, bringing great energy, and doing the little things right—everything you need this time of year to find individual and team success."

"I was really proud of how we handled the mental side of competing today," said Associate Head Coach Troy Hendricks. "We've been talking a lot about how to respond to the good, the great, and the tough moments, and our women showed real composure in everything they did. If we keep that mindset, it's going to be an exciting weekend at the conference championship."

SPRINTS AND RELAYS
Junior Ava Smart (South Portland, Maine) led the way in the short sprints, placing 10th in the 200 meters in 27.46, while freshman Emma Jones (Poland, Maine) finished 17th in 28.50. Sophomore Berkley Hutchins (Springfield, Vt.) crossed in 29.83 for 20th, and sophomore Madalyn Guindon (Saco, Maine) ran 31.57 to round out the Monks' 200m entries.

In the 60 meters, sophomore Ellie Leech (Berwick, Maine) clocked 8.56 to place 18th in prelims. Jones (20th, 8.77), freshman Hallye King (Owls Head, Maine) (21st, 8.90), freshman Kaitlin Tallman (Phillips, Maine) (24th, 8.95), freshman Ruthie Gusler (Phillips, Maine) (25th, 8.97), and junior Alayah Schmitz (Scarborough, Maine) (31st, 9.74) continued to build depth in the short sprints.

The Monks' 4x200-meter relay of Smart, junior Audrey Bilodeau (Lewiston, Maine), freshman Olivea Miller (Livermore Falls, Maine), and Jones placed 5th in 1:55.53, adding four points to the team total. Later, the 4x400-meter relay claimed 5th place in 4:36.30, scoring another four points.

MID-DISTANCE AND DISTANCE
In a strong 800-meter field, Koepsell led the Monks with a 5th-place finish in 2:26.72, scoring four points. Pendleton followed closely in 2:29.88 for 8th and one point, while Willems ran 2:44.50 for 10th in the earlier section.

Sophomore Haley Williams (Winthrop, Maine) represented Saint Joseph's in the 3000 meters, finishing 13th in 12:18.18.

HURDLES
Bilodeau continued her consistent season in the 60-meter hurdles, hitting another New England Division III provisional mark. She ran 9.89 in prelims to advance and then clocked 9.87 in the final to place 6th, scoring three points for the Monks and again meeting the DIII New England provisional standard.

Guindon added depth in the event, running 10.57 in prelims to place 14th.

JUMPS
Junior Breya Whitman (Auburn, Maine) led the vertical jumps with a 3rd-place finish in the high jump, clearing 1.48m (4' 10.25") and scoring six points. She navigated the bar cleanly at 1.43m and 1.48m before taking attempts at 1.53m.

In the long jump, a large underclassman group put together another strong series of marks. Miller placed 17th with 4.56m (14' 11.5"), freshman Natalie Young (Rochester, N.H.) was 19th at 4.53m (14' 10.5"), and King finished 23rd with 4.29m (14' 1"). Tallman (24th, 4.16m / 13' 7.75"), Gusler (25th, 4.13m / 13' 6.75"), and junior Samira Mohamed (Westbrook, Maine) (27th, 3.45m / 11' 4") rounded out the horizontal jumps crew.

The triple jump group provided one of the best scoring punches of the day. Sophomore Olivia Bean (South Portland, Maine) placed 3rd with a New England Division III provisional mark of 10.82m (35' 6") tying the Saint Joseph's College Program Record, earning six points. Sophomore Ella Labrie (Gorham, Maine) was close behind in 6th at 10.69m (35' 1"), also hitting the DIII NE provisional standard and adding three points. Whitman (17th, 9.75m / 32' 0") and junior Alexis Cowan (Nottingham, N.H.) (18th, 9.54m / 31' 3.75") completed a deep Monks triple jump squad.

In the pole vault, junior Selena Huot (Biddeford, Maine) did not record a height but continues to build valuable reps in the event.

THROWS
Leech led the throws group in the shot put, placing 8th with a throw of 10.59m (34' 9") and scoring one point after a consistent six-throw series. Sophomore Jemima Kabangu followed in 11th at 10.10m (33' 1.75"), while Hutchins placed 20th at 8.93m (29' 3.75"). Cunningham finished 25th with 7.81m (25' 7.5"), and junior Haley Lang (Biddeford, Maine) added a mark of 7.67m (25' 2") in 26th as the throws unit continued its steady progression.

In the weight throw, Cunningham impressed again with a toss of 11.89m (39' 0.25") to place 12th. Kabangu (21st, 9.24m / 30' 3.75"), Lang (23rd, 8.92m / 29' 3.25"), and Willems (26th, 6.81m / 22' 4.25") rounded out a busy day for the Monks' throwers.

FULL RESULTS

Women's 60 Meters (Prelims)
Ellie Leech – 8.56 (18th)
Emma Jones – 8.77 (20th)
Hallye King – 8.90 (21st)
Kaitlin Tallman – 8.95 (24th)
Ruthie Gusler – 8.97 (25th)
Alayah Schmitz – 9.74 (31st)

Women's 200 Meters
Ava Smart – 27.46 (10th)
Emma Jones – 28.50 (17th)
Berkley Hutchins – 29.83 (20th)
Madalyn Guindon – 31.57 (24th)

Women's 800 Meters
Bella Koepsell – 2:26.72 (5th, 4 pts)
Amber Pendleton – 2:29.88 (8th, 1 pt)
Cheri Willems – 2:44.50 (10th)

Women's 3000 Meters
Haley Williams – 12:18.18 (13th)

Women's 60-Meter Hurdles (Prelims)
Audrey Bilodeau – 9.89 (8th, NE DIII provisional)
Madalyn Guindon – 10.57 (14th)

Women's 60-Meter Hurdles (Finals)
Audrey Bilodeau – 9.87 (6th, 3 pts, NE DIII provisional)

Women's 4x200-Meter Relay
Smart, Bilodeau, Miller, Jones – 1:55.53 (5th, 4 pts)

Women's 4x400-Meter Relay
Young, Willems, Koepsell, Pendleton – 4:36.30 (5th, 4 pts)

Women's High Jump
Breya Whitman – 1.48m / 4' 10.25" (3rd, 6 pts)

Women's Long Jump
Olivea Miller – 4.56m / 14' 11.5" (17th)
Natalie Young – 4.53m / 14' 10.5" (19th)
Hallye King – 4.29m / 14' 1" (23rd)
Kaitlin Tallman – 4.16m / 13' 7.75" (24th)
Ruthie Gusler – 4.13m / 13' 6.75" (25th)
Samira Mohamed – 3.45m / 11' 4" (27th)

Women's Triple Jump
Olivia Bean – 10.82m / 35' 6" (3rd, 6 pts, NE DIII provisional)
Ella Labrie – 10.69m / 35' 1" (6th, 3 pts, NE DIII provisional)
Breya Whitman – 9.75m / 32' 0" (17th)
Alexis Cowan – 9.54m / 31' 3.75" (18th)

Women's Shot Put
Ellie Leech – 10.59m / 34' 9" (8th, 1 pt)
Jemima Kabangu – 10.10m / 33' 1.75" (11th)
Berkley Hutchins – 8.93m / 29' 3.75" (20th)
Grace Cunningham – 7.81m / 25' 7.5" (25th)
Haley Lang – 7.67m / 25' 2" (26th)

Women's Weight Throw
Grace Cunningham – 11.89m / 39' 0.25" (12th)
Jemima Kabangu – 9.24m / 30' 3.75" (21st)
Haley Lang – 8.92m / 29' 3.25" (23rd)
Cheri Willems – 6.81m / 22' 4.25" (26th)