University of Southern Indiana Women’s Track & Field was again fueled by sophomore Katie Henrickson (Boonville, Indiana) in the mile and a foursome of distance runners in the 3,000-meters at the Tom Hathaway Distance Classic hosted by the University of Indianapolis.
Her third win in four events this winter, Henrickson’s time of 5 minutes, 14.59 seconds earned the top spot in the mile and improved her season best in the event by nearly 13 seconds. Sophomore Miranda Coats (Sellersburg, Indiana) finished the mile in 12th with a time of 5:49.89.
Senior Carly Whitesell (Zionzville, Indiana) earned her first victory of the season in the 3,000-meters, finishing in 10:36.74. Senior Cathryn Peter (Tell City, Indiana) also sealed a top-five finish, placing fourth with a time of 10:52.94. Freshman Ellie Tjelmeland (Springfield, Illinois) and junior Christina Kropid (Springfield, Illinois) rounded out the Screaming Eagle finishers in sixth and seventh, respectively.
Improving her season best in the event by three seconds, freshman Ashley Lawhorn (Frankfort, Kentucky) recorded a fifth-place finish in the 800-meters with a time of 2:37.11.
Sophomore Hilary Paxson (Liberty Center, Indiana) continued to lead the Eagles in throwing events with finishes of sixth and seventh in the shot put and weight throw. Paxson’s toss of 34 feet, 08.50 inches in the shot put and 45’08.5″ were good enough to earn her second and third top-10 finishes of the season.
Two Eagles broke the top-10 of the pole vault with senior Crystal Blair (Bloomington, Indiana) and freshman Rylie Smith (Floyd Knobs, Indiana) finishing fifth and eighth. Respectively. Blair cleared a season best 10’02.00″, while Smith’s top height was 9’02.25″.
USI returns to action next weekend, February 3-24, competing in the Don Denoon Invitational hosted by Southern Illinois University.
