HPU’s Schnuck, Holmes-DiGiovine break women’s track records at JDL

• Sophomore Makenzi Holmes-DiGiovine broke the HPU shot put school record that had stood since 2001 with a mark of 12.21m (41-1)
• Senior Jamie Schnuck won the weight throw with a school record mark of 16.76m (55-0)
• The Panthers return to action Feb. 20-21 at the Hokie Invitational in Blacksburg, Va.

HIGH POINT, N.C. – Behind school record-breaking performances from throwers Jamie Schnuck and Makenzi Holmes-DiGiovine, the High Point University women’s track & field team swept seven opponents at the HPU Team Challenge Thursday at the JDL Fast Track.

HPU earned dual victories over Campbell (89-40), the Citadel (100-37), College of Charleston (80-61), Davidson (97-30), UNCG (105-18), VMI (85-56) and West Virginia (69.50-66.50).

“Our women’s team put together a great effort today,” head coach Mike Esposito said. “Jamie continues to break her own record and Makenzi broke through in a big way today. There’s a lot to do over the next couple weeks as we prepare for the Big South Championship in Blacksburg.”

Schnuck broke her own HPU school record in the weight throw for the fourth time during the 2015-16 season. Her mark of 16.76m (55-0) earned her the weight throw event title Thursday and broke her previous record by more than 0.2m. Holmes-DiGiovine was third with a throw of 14.45m.

Holmes-DiGiovine answered Schnuck with her own school-record breaking performance in the shot put. The Auburn transfer posted a mark of 12.21m (41-1) to earn the event victory and break a record that had stood for 15 years (39-9, Nicole Garner – 2001).

A quartet of Panthers competed in the pole vault Thursday. Senior Alyssa Palenchar finished third with a season-best vault of 3.71m and senior Jill Marois placed fifth with a mark of 3.41m. Junior Madison Depner (3.11m) and redshirt-junior Katie Benavente (2.81m) were eighth and 10th, respectively.

Junior Natalia Ocasio finished third in the 3000m run (10:07.50) while junior Cozette Collin was 11th in 10:50.37.

Freshman Arianna Coleman finished fifth in the 60m dash (8.12 seconds) while junior Alyn Carr was right behind in sixth (8.13 seconds). Junior Amanda Gregory placed eighth (8.18 seconds) to round out the Panther runners in the event.

In distance action, Collin finished sixth in the 800-meter (2:14.83) while freshman Janelle Rothacker placed ninth in an indoor PR of 2:25.39.

On the jumps circuit, freshman Charlotte Morrow finished fourth in the high jump with a personal best of 1.53m and junior Erika Bridges was fifth (1.48m).

Junior Amanda Gregory placed fourth in the long jump (5.26) and junior Alyn Carr finished eighth (5.03m).

In the 60m hurdles, sophomore Mikaela Campbell led the Panthers with a seventh-place finish (9.36 seconds), while fellow sophomore Haley Cianfarini finished ninth (9.63 seconds). Sophomore CeAnna Soper (9.97 seconds), Bridges (10.00 seconds) and senior Sara Katherine Kirkpatrick (10.61 seconds) placed 11th, 12th and 13th, respectively.

Senior Lilla Lorand finished seventh in the 400m dash (1:01.78) and freshman Emmy Geis placed ninth (1:02.27). Fellow freshman Jasmyn Gillespie was 10th (1:02.34) and Soper placed 15th (1:03.74).

Senior Julia Zautcke paced the Panthers in the mile run with a ninth-place showing (5:17.89). Senior Sarah Bode was 10th (5:23.31) and fellow senior Lindsey Siska finished 11th in 5:23.40. Freshman Courtney Kerr placed 17th (5:30.66) and senior Erika Peoples finished 22nd in 5:35.43.

The Panthers return to action Feb. 20-21 at the Hokie Invitational in Blacksburg, Va.