MANCHESTER, N.H. – The Saint Joseph's College women's track & field team competed with a strong all-around showing at the SNHU Spring Invitational on Thursday, highlighted by two school records, a DIII New England qualifying performance in the javelin, and solid depth across the sprints, distance events, jumps, and throws.

The Monks were led by junior Ava Smart, who broke the Saint Joseph's outdoor 200-meter record with a 12th-place finish in 26.81, eclipsing the previous school mark of 27.24. Junior Jemima Kabangu also reset a program standard in the shot put, placing 8th with a toss of 10.27m (33' 8.5"), surpassing the former school record of 10.24m. Sophomore Ellie Leech (Berwick, Maine) added one of the top marks of the meet for Saint Joseph's with a 5th-place finish and DIII New England qualifying throw of 34.85m (114' 4") in the javelin.

SPRINTS AND RELAYS

Smart headlined the sprint group in the 200 meters with her record-breaking 26.81, while freshman Olivea Miller followed closely in 14th with a 26.98 that also came in under the previous school record. Freshman Emma Jones added a 27.68 in the event and also placed 26th in the 100 meters with a time of 13.68. Freshman Hallye King posted a 14.06 in the 100 meters as the Monks continued to build early-season sprint depth.

In relay action, the 4x100-meter team of Cowan, Smart, Jones, and Leech placed 4th overall in 52.15 to turn in one of the top track finishes of the day.

MID-DISTANCE AND DISTANCE

Senior Alexia Young (Biddeford, Maine) represented Saint Joseph's in the 800 meters and finished 11th in 2:37.54. Sophomore Bella Koepsell clocked 5:23.10 in the 1500 meters to place 17th, while freshman Meghan Cyr opened her outdoor campaign with a 10th-place finish in the 5000 meters in 20:41.94.

JUMPS

Miller led the Monks in the vertical jumps, clearing 1.41m (4' 7.5") to place 6th in the high jump. In the long jump, sophomore Ella Labrie turned in the top Saint Joseph's finish with a 4th-place leap of 4.92m (16' 1.75"). Freshman Ruth Gusler followed in 12th at 4.65m (15' 3.25"), just ahead of junior Alexis Cowan in 13th at 4.64m (15' 2.75"). Sophomore Olivia Bean added a 4.52m (14' 10") mark, while freshman Kaitlin Tallman  posted 4.51m (14' 9.75"). King reached 4.36m (14' 3.75"), freshman Natalie Young jumped 4.16m (13' 7.75"), junior Selena Huot landed at 3.60m (11' 9.75"), and junior Samira Mohamed recorded 3.59m (11' 9.5").

The triple jump group added another productive series of marks. Bean placed 7th with a jump of 10.24m (33' 7.25"), Labrie followed in 8th at 10.08m (33' 1"), and Cowan added a 13th-place mark of 9.44m (30' 11.75"). In the pole vault, Jordan Huntley was unable to clear the opening height.

THROWS

Leech carried her momentum into the throws, placing 9th in the discus with a mark of 26.92m (88' 4") before uncorking her New England qualifying effort in the javelin. Junior Haley Lang paced the team in the discus with a throw of 27.30m (89' 7"), while freshman Grace Cunningham (FR-1) added a mark of 24.98m (81' 11") and freshman Adriana Olson posted 24.94m (81' 10").

In the hammer throw, Cunningham led the Monks with a 13th-place toss of 31.79m (104' 3"), followed closely by Lang in 14th at 30.19m (99' 0"). Kabangu posted 21.14m (69' 4"), and Olson added a 17.62m (57' 10") effort. In the shot put, Kabangu's school-record throw of 10.27m (33' 8.5") placed 8th overall, while Leech followed in 10th at 9.95m (32' 7.75"). Cunningham reached 8.43m (27' 8"), Lang posted 7.74m (25' 4.75"), and Hutchins added 7.44m (24' 5"). Huot and sophomore Sarah Richard-Cote rounded out the javelin group with marks of 19.34m (63' 5") and 18.57m (60' 11"), respectively.

FULL RESULTS

100 Meters

Emma Jones – 13.68 (26th)

Hallye King – 14.06 (36th)

200 Meters

Ava Smart – 26.81 (12th, school record)

Olivea Miller – 26.98 (14th)

Emma Jones – 27.68 (18th)

800 Meters

Alexia Young – 2:37.54 (11th)

1500 Meters

Bella Koepsell – 5:23.10 (17th)

5000 Meters

Meghan Cyr – 20:41.94 (10th)

4x100-Meter Relay

Cowan, Smart, Jones, Leech – 52.15 (4th)

High Jump

Olivea Miller – 1.41m / 4' 7.5" (6th)

Long Jump

Ella Labrie – 4.92m / 16' 1.75" (4th)

Ruth Gusler – 4.65m / 15' 3.25" (12th)

Alexis Cowan – 4.64m / 15' 2.75" (13th)

Olivia Bean – 4.52m / 14' 10" (19th)

Kaitlin Tallman – 4.51m / 14' 9.75" (20th)

Hallye King – 4.36m / 14' 3.75" (25th)

Natalie Young – 4.16m / 13' 7.75" (29th)

Selena Huot – 3.60m / 11' 9.75" (32nd)

Samira Mohamed – 3.59m / 11' 9.5" (33rd)

Triple Jump

Olivia Bean – 10.24m / 33' 7.25" (7th)

Ella Labrie – 10.08m / 33' 1" (8th)

Alexis Cowan – 9.44m / 30' 11.75" (13th)

Shot Put

Jemima Kabangu – 10.27m / 33' 8.5" (8th, school record)

Ellie Leech – 9.95m / 32' 7.75" (10th)

Grace Cunningham – 8.43m / 27' 8"

Haley Lang – 7.74m / 25' 4.75"

Discus Throw

Haley Lang – 27.30m / 89' 7" (8th)

Ellie Leech – 26.92m / 88' 4" (9th)

Grace Cunningham – 24.98m / 81' 11" (12th)

Adriana Olson – 24.94m / 81' 10" (13th)

Hammer Throw

Grace Cunningham – 31.79m / 104' 3" (13th)

Haley Lang – 30.19m / 99' 0" (14th)

Jemima Kabangu – 21.14m / 69' 4" (19th)

Adriana Olson – 17.62m / 57' 10" (20th)

Javelin Throw

Ellie Leech – 34.85m / 114' 4" (5th, DIII New England qualifier)

Selena Huot – 19.34m / 63' 5" (19th)

Sarah Richard-Cote – 18.57m / 60' 11" (20th)