SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Sophia Knerr (Columbia, N.J./North Warren Regional) won her second consecutive silver medal in the 3000 meter steeplechase, while the Kutztown University women's track & field team sent three individuals and its 4x100 meter relay team through to finals during Friday's action at the PSAC Outdoor Championships hosted by Slippery Rock University.
Knerr, a senior from Columbia, N.J., set a new personal record and moved up a spot to fourth on Kutztown's all-time top 10 list with an 11:20.17 to capture All-PSAC Second Team honors. She trimmed more than two seconds off her former top time of 11:22.61 and won her third career outdoor medal in the event after taking bronze back in 2023.
The Golden Bears enjoyed more success in the 3000m steeplechase as
Olivia Solomon (Sunbury, Pa./Shikellamy) finished fifth to earn four points with the seventh-best time in program history (11:33.63) and
Jensen Kraft (Nutley, N.J./Saint Mary) joined the program's top 10 in 10th with a career-best 11:46.27.
Athletes battled blustery conditions throughout the day and wind-aided times in the sprints were commonplace.
Mackey Donovan (Blauvelt, N.Y./Tappan Zee) was the highest-ranking Golden Bear individual in preliminary heats, turning in the fifth-best time of 20 entries in the 800m (2:18.68) to qualify for Saturday's final.
Beth Schearer (Springfield, Pa./Springfield) and
Raechel Bonner (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) advanced through to the 200m finals with the sixth and seventh best times in prelims. Schearer ran a wind-aided 24.93, while Bonner recorded a wind-aided 24.98.
Schearer and Bonner were joined by lead-off
Taniyah Lawler (Chester, Pa./Chester) and anchor
Brook Smith (Lancaster, Pa./Hempfield) in the 4x100m relay, where Kutztown set the third-quickest time of 12 teams with a 47.50 to secure one of eight spots in tomorrow's final. The time also ranked tied for third in program history.
The Golden Bears currently sit seventh of 15 teams with 14 points. Host Slippery Rock has 54 points to lead the way, 12 ahead of East Stroudsburg. Millersville (37), Shippensburg (32) and California (Pa.) (24) make up the rest of the top five.
In addition to Friday's qualifiers, KU will be represented on the final day of the championships in the 1500m, 5000m, 4x400m relay, pole vault, triple jump and shot put. Events are set to begin at 11 a.m.
PSAC OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Thursday-Saturday, May 8-10, 2025 | Slippery Rock, Pa. | Slippery Rock University
KUTZTOWN WOMEN'S RESULTS
FRIDAY, MAY 9
TEAM: 7th/15 (14 pts.)
Heptathlon (16 competitors)
None
100m Prelims (20 competitors)
9.
Brook Smith (Lancaster, Pa./Hempfield), 12.14w
200m Prelims (20 competitors)
6.
Beth Schearer (Springfield, Pa./Springfield), 24.93wq
7.
Raechel Bonner (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin), 24.98wq
400m Prelims (20 competitors)
10.
Raechel Bonner (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin), 58.82
800m Prelims (20 competitors)
5.
Mackey Donovan (Blauvelt, N.Y./Tappan Zee), 2:18.68q
9.
Deandra Young (East Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg), 2:20.23
100m Hurdles Prelims (19 competitors)
None
400m Hurdles Prelims (20 competitors)
10.
Taniyah Lawler (Chester, Pa./Chester), 1:06.00
3000m Steeplechase (22 competitors)
2.
Sophia Knerr (Columbia, N.J./North Warren Regional), 11:20.17,
8 pts., All-PSAC Second Team, 4th all-time at KU
5.
Olivia Solomon (Sunbury, Pa./Shikellamy), 11:33.63,
4 pts., 7th all-time at KU
9.
Jensen Kraft (Nutley, N.J./Saint Mary), 11:46.27,
10th all-time at KU
4x100m Relay Prelims (12 teams)
3. Kutztown 'A' (Lawler, Schearer, Bonner, Smith), 47.50q,
T-3rd all-time at KU
High Jump (25 competitors)
18.
Kacie Sienko (Langhorne, Pa./Neshaminy), 1.51m (4-11.50)
Long Jump (18 competitors)
None
Discus Throw (20 competitors)
17.
Kate Nolan (West Grove, Pa./Avon Grove), 33.71m (110-7)
