JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A new personal and school-record for Jen Esposito in the 400-meter hurdles highlighted the Elon University women’s track and field team’s opening day at the NCAA East Preliminaries on Thursday evening, May 26, at Hodges Stadium on the campus of the University of North Florida.
Esposito advanced to the quarterfinal round of the race after the Mansfield, Mass., native clocked a 57.04 – breaking her previous program mark of 57.75. Esposito, who entered the day as the 21st-ranked athlete in the region, finished seventh overall in the race and will compete in the quarterfinal round for a chance to clinch a spot for the national meet in Eugene, Ore., with a top-12 finish.
Junior Kimberly Johansen just missed out on extending her stay at the preliminary meet in the 1,500-meters. The Chelmsford, England, native made an 18-spot improvement from last year’s regional meet in the race as she clocked a 4:24.29 and was 23rd overall. However, Johansen was 25th overall in terms of seeding as her time was not one of the top-five performances from each heat that automatically advance to the quarterfinal round.
The Phoenix will return to Hodges Stadium Friday, May 27, for day two of the NCAA East Preliminary. Action will kick off for the Phoenix at 12 p.m., with sophomore Bryanna Hames throwing in the women’s discus. Senior Sydney Griffin opens events on the track for the Phoenix at 5:00 p.m., in the first round of the 100-meter hurdles followed by Esposito in the quarterfinals of the 400-meter hurdles at 7:30 p.m. Senior Tereza Novotna closes out the day for Elon in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at 8:50 p.m.