Women's Track and Field posts two inaugural SLIAC Champions
Freshman Raven Venegas won the shot put while Lynsey Wehrenberg took home the javelin title in the inaugural SLIAC Track and Field Championships. Venegas was also named SLIAC Field Newcomer of the Year.
Greenville, Ill. - The inaugural St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Track and Field Championship was held Monday at Greenville College. Originally scheduled to be held over the Friday and Saturday before, rain forced the event to transition to an all-day rolling schedule on May 1st.
On the women's side Fontbonne finished fourth with two individual champions, Raven Venegas in the shot put and Lynsey Wehrenberg in the javelin. The throws scored 31 of the Griffins' 42 points followed by 11 points on the track side. Venegas scored 20 points while securing the SLIAC Field Newcomer of the Year. After her school record-setting throw in the shot put she stands just 22 inches from qualifying for the NCAA National Championships on May 26-27, ranked 56th among Division III qualifiers. Sarah Rhoads made the largest improvement with a four and a half minute personal best in the 10,000 meters. Overall, the women's team had 10 personal records on the day which included a personal record for senior Jennie Stare in the hammer throw during her final collegiate event.
On the men's side, Austin Lawrence was the lone scorer for the men in the 10,000 meters. Lawrence doubled back and also ran a three-second personal best in the 400 meter hurdles.
The majority of the team will transition into summer training to prepare for next season. Six athletes will continue on with two meets remaining on the schedule. Venegas and Katie Gosser will fly out to Utah next week to compete at the BYU Last Chance Invitational and all six (Venegas, Gosser, Austin Lawrence, Sarah Rhoads, Kayla Sheldon and Lynsey Wehrenberg) will compete at the Gregory Final Qualifier hosted by North Central College on May 17th and 18th.
School Records: (2)
Raven Venegas – Freshman and School Shot Put Record (12.61 meters)
Raven Venegas – Shot Put
Mackenze Daniel – Shot Put
Sarah Rhoads – 10,000m
Kayla Sheldon – 100m
Jaylah Jones – 100m
Emily Bay – Discus, Hammer, 400m
Jennie Stare – Hammer
Julianne Cadieux – 800m