IRVINE, Calif. -- The Big Red track and field teams opened up their 2010 outdoor campaign with very strong performances at the UC Irvine Spring Break Invitational on Saturday. The women produced 14 ECAC qualifiers and had nine event wins.
 
The women had one of their best meets to open the annual spring trip in years, compiling nine event wins to go along with eight runner-up finishes and 30 top-five finishes. In addition, the Big Red had 14 ECAC qualifiers, a new school and freshman record and eight alterations to the all-time top ten lists.

The meet got off to a great start, as freshman Victoria Imbesi broke the javelin school record formerly held by Sarah Herskee Wattenberg '03, throwing a very good 149-0, also an ECAC qualifier. Also in the throws, junior Cassie Schweighofer placed second in the discus in an ECAC-qualifying 154-5, and freshman Clare Dishong reached #10 all-time with an ECAC qualifying 140-2 for fifth. In the hammer, sophomore Erin Rossi had a personal best to place third in 154-11, while Schweighofer was fourth in 150-1. Also performing very well in the field was senior Natalie Gengel, who cleared 12-3 1/2 to win the vault, easily eclipsing the ECAC standard. Sophomore Sam Brady reached #2 mark all-time at Cornell with a second place 11-11 3/4 and freshman Lindsey Patterson placed sixth in 11-3, ninth all-time at Cornell. In the triple jump, sophomore Kristin Brandt had a big personal best to win the event with an ECAC-qualifying 39-9 1/4 (#7 all-time at Cornell), while junior Kim Lienhoop was fourth at 38-11 1/4. Lienhoop also placed fourth in the long jump at 17-6 3/4, with Brandt fifth at 17-0 1/2. 
 
In the first track event, senior Erin Roberts had a big personal best to move up to #3 all-time in the 3000 steeplechase, running 10:32.27 to win and better the ECAC standard by nearly 20 seconds. Junior Maura Carroll had a fine race to place second in 11:00.68. Next up on the track, the 4X100 blazed to victory in 46.32, #5 all-time at Cornell, behind legs from junior Mecha Santos, sophomore Melissa Hewitt, senior Megan Williams and senior Krystal Williams. In the 1500, senior Kerri Lyons placed second in an ECAC-qualifying 4:27.95 while sophomores Janel Parker (10th, 4:36.46) and Emma Clarke (15th, 4:40.54) enjoyed PRs. Junior Lauren Tanz was fourth in the 100 hurdles in 14.82 while sophomore Taylor Baird was fifth in 14.89. In the 400, senior Kate Backel had a great race to reach #10 all-time at Cornell, running an ECAC-qualifying 55.93 to place first; classmate Megan Williams was second in 56.47 and freshman Libby O'Brien was fourth in 56.86. Hewitt came back to win the 100 in an ECAC-qualifying 11.90, while Krystal Williams was third in 12.27. In a competitive 800, junior Kim Standridge closed well to place second in an outdoor personal best of 2:10.59, an ECAC qualifier, while junior Alana Levy won her heat to place sixth overall in 2:15.47. Senior Jessica Weyman had a solid first 400 hurdles race of the season, placing second in 61.40 to qualify for the ECACs, while freshman Mari Giurastante was fourth in 63.73. In the 200, Santos was third in 25.17, and in the final individual event of the day, freshman Kelsey Karys had a very impressive debut 5000, winning in 16:46.84, #9 all-time at Cornell and easily an ECAC qualifier. The Big Red took four of the first five places, as freshman Genna Hartung was second in 17:19.51, freshman Katie Kellner was fourth in 17:29.59 and junior Kristin Sellers had a personal best to place fifth in 17:50.44. Last but not least, the 4X400 of sophomore Kelsey Reimnitz (58.4), Megan Williams (55.9), Backel (56.6) and Weyman (55.7) ran 3:46.78 to win by eight seconds. 
 
Complete results from the meet can be found at:
http://www.flashresults.com/flashwest/10Meets/10Classic/

Next up for the Big Red is a great week of training at the UC Irvine track and then the Cal State Fullerton Titan Twilight on Friday, March 26.