STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. & BOSTON, Mass. --The Kutztown University women's track and field team tested itself against the best of the best, taking part in two meets on Friday. The majority of the Golden Bears traveled to the Fasttrack National Invitational on Staten Island, N.Y., while a smaller group made the trip up to Boston for the David Hemery Valentine Invitational.

In Staten Island, five Golden Bears hit PSAC marks, while two ended with top-five finishes. KU shined in the high jump, with freshman Mia Grassia (Bay Shore, N.Y./Bay Shore) taking first place in the event with a 1.55-meter jump, which was enough to earn a PSAC mark. In third place was Kacie Sienko (Langhorne, Pa./Neshaminy) with a 1.50-meter jump. Sienko also thrived in the long jump, earning fourth and a PSAC mark with a 5.45-meter jump.

Jaelyn D'Amelio (Manahawkin, N.J./Southern Regional), Sophia Knerr (Columbia, N.J./North Warren Regional), and Haylee Edwards (Mohnton, Pa./Twin Valley) were the other Golden Bears to earn PSAC marks at the Ocean Breeze Track and Field Facility.

In Boston, the Golden Bears squared up with some teams from division one and held their own, with four KU runners earning PSAC marks and three putting up top 10 times in program history.. Raechel Bonner (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) and Kiana Young (East Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg) both hit cut times in the 400 meters, with Bonner running the second fastest and Young the ninth fastest times in KU history. Ava Bendetti (Breinigsville, Pa./Parkland) and Anastasia Fratanduono (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan) hit their PSAC times in the 800 meters. The foursome of Brianna Foster (Ridley Park, Pa./Ridley Park), Jaidah Mitchell (Pemberton, N.J./Pemberton Township), Bonner, and Young also set a record in the 4x400, finishing 25th with a time of 3:56.88, the third best in KU history. 

The Golden Bears are back in action next week at home at the KU Last Chance Meet in the O'Pake Fieldhouse on Friday, Feb. 17. That meet will kick off at 4 p.m. 

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FASTTRACK NATIONAL INVITATIONAL
FEB. 10, 2023 | OCEAN BREEZE TRACK AND FIELD FACILITY

400m
70. Alicia Underkoffler (Elizabethtown, Pa./Elizabethtown), 1:05.54

800m
36. Deandra Young (East Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg), 2:27.53

200m
49. Sage Rowley (Runnemede, N.J./Triton Regional), 27.76
59. Markya Wallace (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin East), 28.11

3000m
10. Jaelyn D'Amelio (Manahawkin, N.J./Southern Regional), 10:32.96, PSAC Qualifying
13. Sophia Knerr (Columbia, N.J./North Warren Regional), 10:41.72, PSAC Qualifying
21. Colleen Gilbert (Willow Street, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg), 10:51.42
30. Madeline Barney (Oakland, N.J./Indian Hills), 11:02.75
31. Erika Moriarty (Kutztown, Pa./Kutztown), 11:05.21
37. Julianna Elsesser (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland), 11:18.77

Pole Vault
6. Haylee Edwards (Mohnton, Pa./Twin Valley), 3.21m (10'6.5"), PSAC Qualifying
DNS. Myah Davies (New Market, Md./Linganore)

Long Jump
4. Kacie Sienko (Langhorne, Pa./Neshaminy), 5.45m (17'10.5"), PSAC Qualifying
24. Haleigh Davis (Morgantown, Pa./Twin Valley), 4.88m (16'0.25")

Triple Jump
27. Anna Giannotti (Lake Hopatcong, N.J./Morris Catholic), 10.12m (33'2.5")

Shot Put
16. Leah Eckley (Doylestown, Pa./C.B. East), 11.02m (36'1.75")
38. Alison Bender (Shippensburg, Pa./Shippensburg), 9.04m (29'8")

Weight Throw
40. Molly Kutz (Pen Argyl, Pa./Pen Argyl), 10.76m (35'4")
F. Kate Nolan (West Grove, Pa./Avon Grove)

60m Hurdles College
7. Hazel Deschamps (Bethlehem, Pa./Liberty), 10.43
9. Rhianne Markovchick (Weatherly, Pa./Weatherly), 10.44

60m College
15. Sage Rowley (Runnemede, N.J./Triton Regional), 8.47

High Jump College
1. Mia Grassia (Bay Shore, N.Y./Bay Shore), 1.55m (5'1"), PSAC Qualifying
3. Kacie Sienko (Langhorne, Pa./Neshaminy), 1.50m (4'11")
13. Haleigh Davis (Morgantown, Pa./Twin Valley), 1.45m (4'9")
NH. Rhianne Markovchick (Weatherly, Pa./Weatherly)

Pole Vault College
8. Andrea Danciu (Mohnton, Pa./Governor Mifflin), 3.05m (10'0")
NH. Megan Kearns (Allentown, Pa./Parkland)

Long Jump College
DNS. Annika Wise (Harrisburg, Pa./Bishop McDevitt)

 

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2023 BU DAVID HEMERY VALENTINE INVITATIONAL
FEB. 10, 2023 | BOSTON UNIVERSITY TRACK & TENNIS CENTER

400m
65. Raechel Bonner (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin), 57.52, PSAC Qualifying, 2nd best in KU history
95. Kiana Young (East Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg), 58.64, PSAC Qualifying, 9th best in KU History
177. Jaidah Mitchell (Pemberton, N.J./Pemberton Township), 1:02.46

60m
DNS. Brianna Foster (Ridley Park, Pa./Ridley Park)

800m
177. Ava Bendetti (Breinigsville, Pa./Parkland), 2:21.19, PSAC Qualifying
201. Anastasia Fratanduono (Philadelphia, Pa./Archbishop Ryan), 2:24.07, PSAC Qualifying

4x400m
25. Raechel Bonner (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin), Brianna Foster (Ridley Park, Pa./Ridley Park), Jaidah Mitchell (Pemberton, N.J./Pemberton Township), Kiana Young (East Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg), 3:56.88, 3rd best in KU History