SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. -- The Kutztown University women's track & field team put forth nine PSAC Championship qualifying performances and produced 11 top-five event finishes at this weekend's Paul Kaiser Classic hosted by Shippensburg University.

Sophia Knerr (Columbia, N.J./North Warren Regional) was KU's lone event winner, besting 13 other runners to claim the 3,000-meter steeplechase in a PSAC cut time of 11:33.25.

The Maroon and Gold got runner-up finishes from Sage Dunkleberger (Watsontown, Pa./Warrior Run) in the 10,000m, Olivia Solomon (Sunbury, Pa./Shikellamy) in the 3000m, Delaney Beard (Sinking Spring, Pa./Governor Mifflin) in the triple jump and its 4x400m relay team.

Dunkleberger was one of a handful of athletes to compete Friday night when the 10k and hammer throw were contested. The sophomore from Watsontown, Pa., ran KU's quickest 10k time of the season with a PSAC qualifying 39:37.95.

Solomon led two top five finishers in the 3000m with a 10:54.99 for a second-place finish, while Maura Lenhart (Center Valley, Pa./Southern Lehigh) was fourth in 11:16.34.

Beard turned in another PSAC cut with her second-best triple jump mark of the season. Her best jump of 11.65m (38-2.75) was good for second of 23 competitors.

Kutztown's 4x400m relay of Taniyah Lawler (Chester, Pa./Chester), Mackey Donovan (Blauvelt, N.Y./Tappan Zee), Beth Schearer (Springfield, Pa./Springfield) and Raechel Bonner (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) turned in a 4:01.63 to place second just under four seconds off host Shippensburg's winning time. All four individuals in the relay had solid days, as Bonner took third in the 400m with a PSAC time of 57.91, Schearer placed third in the 200m (25.65), Lawler went fifth in the 400m hurdles (1:07.81) and Donovan was sixth in the 800m in a PSAC time of 2:21.12.

Deandra Young (East Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg) turned in the fourth-best 800m time among 69 runners with a PSAC qualifying time of 2:20.08.

Kutztown accounted for three of the top seven finishers in the pole vault, led by Taylor Funk's (Denver, Pa./Cocalico) fourth-place showing. Funk cleared 3.45m (11-3.75) for a PSAC qualifying cut, with Marissa McNamee (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) and Natalie Holland (Lancaster, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg) each clearing 3.30m (10-10).

Thrower Maria Clark (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Mechanicsburg) finished seventh in the shot put and discus, achieving PSAC qualifying marks in both events. Clark recorded a top throw of 12.13m (39-9.75) in the shot put and a best effort of 38.89m (127-7) in the discus. Saige Thibodeaux (Cape Coral, Fla./Ida S. Baker) also placed seventh in the javelin, throwing 34.73m (113-11).

KU will compete in the West Chester University Tune Up next Friday, May 2, before heading out to Slippery Rock for the PSAC Outdoor Championships May 8-10.
 

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PAUL KAISER CLASSIC
Friday-Saturday, April 25-26, 2025 | Shippensburg, Pa. | Shippensburg University
 
KUTZTOWN WOMEN'S RESULTS
 
FRIDAY, APRIL 25
 
10,000m (11 competitors)
2. Sage Dunkleberger (Watsontown, Pa./Warrior Run), 39:37.95, PSAC Qualifying
 
Hammer Throw (36 competitors)
9. Kate Nolan (West Grove, Pa./Avon Grove), 41.95m (137-7)
17. Kennedy Bulger (Manahawkin, N.J./Southern Regional), 38.04m (124-10)
31. Sofia Beard (York, Pa./Red Lion), 29.87m (98-0)
 
SATURDAY, APRIL 26
 
200m (59 competitors)
3. Beth Schearer (Springfield, Pa./Springfield), 25.65
10. Brook Smith (Lancaster, Pa./Hempfield), 26.59
41. Grace Tedesco (Ocean View, N.J./Ocean City), 28.83
 
400m (32 competitors)
3. Raechel Bonner (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin), 57.91, PSAC Qualifying
20. Gracie Trexler (Allentown, Pa./Parkland), 1:04.82
22. Markya Wallace (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin East), 1:05.32
 
800m (69 competitors)
4. Deandra Young (East Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg), 2:20.08, PSAC Qualifying
6. Mackey Donovan (Blauvelt, N.Y./Tappan Zee), 2:21.12, PSAC Qualifying
 
3000m (17 competitors)
2. Olivia Solomon (Sunbury, Pa./Shikellamy), 10:54.99
4. Maura Lenhart (Center Valley, Pa./Southern Lehigh), 11:16.34
 
400m Hurdles (18 competitors)
5. Taniyah Lawler (Chester, Pa./Chester), 1:07.81
 
3000m Steeplechase (14 competitors)
1. Sophia Knerr (Columbia, N.J./North Warren Regional), 11:33.25, PSAC Qualifying
 
4x400m Relay (7 teams)
2. Kutztown 'A' (Lawler, Donovan, Schearer, Bonner), 4:01.63
 
High Jump (29 competitors)
T-13. Kacie Sienko (Langhorne, Pa./Neshaminy), 1.50m (4-11)
 
Pole Vault (33 competitors)
4. Taylor Funk (Denver, Pa./Cocalico), 3.45m (11-3.75), PSAC Qualifying
6. Marissa McNamee (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin), 3.30m (10-10)
7. Natalie Holland (Lancaster, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg), 3.30m (10-10)
 
Long Jump (42 competitors)
16. Delaney Beard (Sinking Spring, Pa./Governor Mifflin), 5.12m (16-9.75)
22. Brook Smith (Lancaster, Pa./Hempfield), 4.99m (16-4.50)
 
Triple Jump (23 competitors)
2. Delaney Beard (Sinking Spring, Pa./Governor Mifflin), 11.65m (38-2.75), PSAC Qualifying
 
Shot Put (46 competitors)
7. Maria Clark (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Mechanicsburg), 12.13m (39-9.75), PSAC Qualifying
17. Sofia Beard (York, Pa./Red Lion), 10.99m (36-0.75)
44. Scarlett Helmecki (Kennett Square, Pa./Sanford School (Del.)), 8.17m (26-9.75)
 
Discus Throw (46 competitors)
7. Maria Clark (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Mechanicsburg), 38.89m (127-7), PSAC Qualifying
12. Kate Nolan (West Grove, Pa./Avon Grove), 34.57m (113-5)
 
Javelin Throw (48 competitors)
7. Saige Thibodeaux (Cape Coral, Fla./Ida S. Baker), 34.73m (113-11)