LEWISBURG, Pa. -- Competing against over 50 schools at the Bucknell Bison Outdoor Classic on Friday and Saturday in Lewisburg, Pa., the Cornell women's track and field team had a number of stand-out performances as the Big Red won seven events, had 25 top-five event finishes and produced 10 ECAC qualifiers.  

Things got off to a very good start on Friday night in the distance events as senior Erin Roberts cruised to victory in the 3000 steeplechase, winning by over 20 seconds in an ECAC-qualifying 10:40.4. Robyn Ellerbrock '07 was second in 11:02.5 and junior Maura Carroll was third in 11:06.5. Junior Kim Standridge also placed first, winning the Invitational 1500 in 4:33.51, closing well after a slow early pace to defeat a competitive field. Senior Caroline Heidt placed seventh in the fast section, running 4:37.59. Also running well was freshman Katie Kellner, who won her heat of the Invitational 1500 in 4:47.34 and sophomore Emma Clarke (4:42.76), freshman Kelsey Karys (4:44.42) and sophomore Meghan Brown (4:44.88) who placed second, third and fourth in their heat of the Invitational 1500. Junior Kristin Sellers had a huge breakthrough to place sixth in the 10K, dipping under the ECAC standard by 40 seconds with a fine time of 37:00.65, a PR by nearly 90 seconds. Also running well was freshman Cara Costich, who placed 13th in the Invitational 5000, running 17:40.04 in her first attempt at the distance and junior Shelby Herman, who had a 30 second personal best to place fourth in the Collegiate section of the 5000, running 17:51.15. Also on Friday was the javelin, where freshman Victoria Imbesi placed third at 134-7.

The Big Red women had a great start on Saturday as the 4X100 of junior Mecha Santos, sophomore Melissa Hewitt, senior Megan Williams and senior Krystal Williams ran 46.38 to place first by nearly two seconds in an ECAC-qualifying time. Hewitt came back to win the 100 in a meet record and ECAC-qualifier of 11.86, while Santos placed third in 12.12, #9 all-time. Santos had a very good day overall, as she later placed third in the 200, running 25.13. Also having an impressive day was senior Kate Backel, who placed second in the 400 at 55.26, good enough for #6 all-time at Cornell and another ECAC qualifier; she was second later in the day in a big PR of 25.06 in the 200.  A big highlight on the track on Saturday was the 1-2-3 finish of the Cornell women's 400 hurdlers. Senior Jess Weyman had a seasonal best 60.02 to place first, while sophomore Molly Glantz moved to #3 all-time at Cornell with a run of 60.87 and freshman Mari Giurastante was third in a fine 62.14. Cornell had a similarly strong showing in the pole vault as senior Natalie Gengel placed first at 12-8 1/2, an ECAC qualifier. Sophomore Sam Brady and freshman Claire Dishong placed second as both cleared 11-7 3/4. The Big Red's other event win on the track came in the 4X400, as sophomore Kelsey Reimnitz, senior Megan Williams, Backel and Weyman won by 8 seconds in a track record of 3:44.28.  Also running well was junior Anna Scull, who had a significant PR to get second in the 800 in 2:12.32; senior Kerri Lyons ran a seasonal best 2:13.46 for fourth. Senior Lindsay Broyhill (2:15.23) and freshman Alyssa O'Connor (2:16.06) each won their heats. Other good performances came from sophomore Kristin Brandt (3rd in the long jump at 18-5 3/4 and second in the triple jump at 39-0 1/4), sophomore Erin Rossi in the hammer (9th in 158-10, #10 all-time at Cornell), freshman Ailish Hanly in the high jump (5th, 5-1) and junior Kim Lienhoop in the triple jump (5th, 37-6 1/2) and sophomore Taylor Baird in the 100 hurdles (4th, 14.75).

Complete results can be found at:
http://www.bucknellbison.com/sports/m-track/stats/2009-2010/bison_outdoor_classic_2010_results.html

Next up for Cornell the Penn Dual meet, which the Big Red will host on Saturday, April 17th at the Robert J. Kane Sports Complex at Cornell.